Huffington Post: When Machiavelli Dons Tibetan Robes

Nov 29, 2017 | Views: 9,957

Just two weeks after the Huffington Post wrote its first exposé of the Dorje Shugden controversy on November 14, 2017, they have published a follow-up. The Huffington Post, widely known as HuffPost, is an immensely popular digital media group that has won many awards for its commitment to deliver fair and balanced journalism. HuffPost is known to publish stories that are free from the political persuasions of any existing power structure. So when a media outlet of this calibre covers the Dorje Shugden issue, it comes after a careful and objective examination of the facts.

Finally, after staying buried for over 20 years, the very damaging Dorje Shugden ban is getting the news coverage it deserves. Damaging because it has caused so much division and disharmony in Tibetan society, as well as the Buddhist community globally. Some people may call it a dispute or a controversy to try and downplay its harm but let’s call it what it really is: in 1996, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), in other words the Tibetan leadership, imposed a religious ban on a large percentage of its own citizens by playing on the Tibetan people’s loyalty and devotion towards His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Personally I do not know how the CTA had hoped to ban a religion that is practised by over four million people around the world and for them to expect people to stay silent and not speak up. Whenever people’s rights are suppressed, whether it is religious or otherwise, there will always be those who will be brave enough to speak up and voice their disagreement. And that is how the CTA’s anti-Dorje Shugden activities became noticed. Today, more and more people are questioning why this is happening and why it is allowed.

Since the inception of the religious ban in 1996, the CTA has never provided sound reasons for its actions against Dorje Shugden practitioners. Instead, as this Huffington Post news report recognises, the CTA relied on an old Amnesty International letter as proof that there was no wrongdoing. And in that way, the ban was able to go on, even though the Amnesty letter has since been shown as being taken out of context. Amnesty themselves never said that there was no evidence of wrongdoing, but that the Dorje Shugden issue is outside their mandate.

This is also something HuffPost has identified because now they are examining the validity of Amnesty’s reasons not to pursue complaints made by victims of the Dorje Shugden discriminations. It is unfortunate that Amnesty concluded the Dorje Shugden issue as a religious one, and not a human rights issue because it has affected millions over the last 20 years. Clearly the parameters of Amnesty’s mandate are outdated because it was constructed at a time when religious discrimination was not at the forefront of global consciousness. Perhaps it would serve Amnesty’s mission better in the modern era to review their parameters, so that they might afford greater protections and lend a voice to more groups of the oppressed. So I hope many more news media groups will investigate the Dorje Shugden matter now and allow the truth to be exposed naturally. It cannot be in this day and age that the free press remain silent when such obvious injustices are being imposed on a group of people.

So yes, now people like Martin Desai are questioning why the CTA has been allowed to proceed with this ban unchecked. Things have degenerated to such a state where the CTA have a free hand to label all Dorje Shugden practitioners globally as “criminals in history”, as per the 2014 resolution passed by the Tibetan parliament-in-exile. Such a term is an affront to the sovereignty of other nations from whence Shugden practitioners originate. For example, the majority of my students are from Malaysia where there is religious freedom. How can the CTA have the temerity to override Malaysian sovereignty and label Malaysian citizens as “criminals” when they are not? Or to override American sovereignty and label American Shugden practitioners as “criminals” when they are not?

To say Shugden people are “criminals in history” is a sweeping statement that conveniently paints Dorje Shugden practitioners as law-breakers, to make it easier to vilify them when in actuality, the phrase could not be further from the truth. Dorje Shugden practitioners are merely exercising their right to religious freedom, and they are as law-abiding as any other people. Don’t tell me everyone who supports His Holiness the Dalai Lama is perfect and law-abiding, and there isn’t a single law-breaker amongst them. And exactly what law are Shugden practitioners breaking anyway? In order for someone to be considered a criminal, they need to have broken the law. What did Dorje Shugden worshippers from all over the world collectively do to be considered “criminals in history”? This is something the Tibetan leadership have never addressed, but instead irresponsibly incited a kind of moral panic by using the phrase without basis or proof.

The Tibetan leadership’s supporters may say that our supposed ‘crime’ is to be “demon worshippers” but my point is, so what? So what if someone chooses to engage in spirit worship? Dorje Shugden practice is certainly not spirit worship but even if it were, it is everyone’s prerogative to practise whatever they wish, and no one should call them names, label them, segregate and discriminate against them, or impose sanctions on them for their choice. That is real religious freedom — to have mutual respect between two groups even if there are differences of opinion in each other’s faith.

And the phrase “criminals in history” only serves to reinforce the separation that the CTA has imposed on the Tibetan community for the last 20 years. The separation can be observed most obviously in the monasteries splitting between Shugden and non-Shugden. To add salt to the wound, the CTA then uses the existence of Shugden-reliant monasteries to claim that there is religious freedom since “Shugden people have their own monasteries.” But the truth is that prior to the ban, these monasteries did not exist because there was no enforced distinction between Shugdenpa and non-Shugdenpa, and everyone was under the same roof. And so, these Shugden monasteries exist today because the Tibetan leadership forced the main Gelug monastic institutions to expel Shugden monks. And therefore for reasons of survival, the expelled monks had to reestablish themselves as a new monastery to preserve their lineage and practice of Dorje Shugden, and not because they had religious freedom.

To be honest, I don’t think that the monasteries really wanted to expel anyone. I was there in Gaden Shartse Monastery when the ban was first imposed. I had friends in the monastic administrations of Gaden, Sera and Drepung (the three main monasteries) and I saw how they were slow to implement the ban because they knew it was wrong and they knew the ramifications. But after His Holiness the Dalai Lama issued a clear statement saying monks had to be expelled, the monasteries had no choice but to clamp down as the Tibetan leadership were watching them very closely.

Then the Tibetan leadership stepped it up a notch by emphasising over and over again that if you don’t give up the practice, it will harm His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s life. I have addressed this before that it’s not possible for Dorje Shugden to harm anyone, let alone the Dalai Lama, because Dorje Shugden is a Buddha. But what saddens me about this false assertion is that it’s a clear indicator how people these days are being manipulated into doing things that appear to be good, but in fact are divisive. The Tibetan leadership plays on people’s loyalty, love and devotion for the Dalai Lama, and their sense of protectiveness towards him, and uses that to suppress a religious group.

So thank you to HuffPost for publishing this article, to begin to right the ship. 20 years of abuse arising from a ban with no basis, has been 20 years too long, especially when it has been bolstered by mainstream media who have (for reasons I do understand) just found it easier to side with the world-famous Dalai Lama. Besides, it does not suit someone of the Dalai Lama’s calibre to speak against any religious faith and to allow its publication on his personal website (DalaiLama.com). No advice is necessary from the Dalai Lama regarding any spiritual path for anyone. It’s a personal choice, a personal choice that should not be persecuted in the way Shugden people are. After all he has espoused for most of his adult life the importance of tolerance, compassion and understanding among all humans, and to put aside all differences. Having ‘advice’ on his personal website against the Dorje Shugden belief simply does not gel when people of all religious backgrounds – be it Druids, witchcraft, voodoo, Wiccans, Jehovah Witnesses, Christians, Catholics, Hindus, Taoists, Jews, Muslims, Kabbalist, Satanists, Baha’i, Scientologist et. al. – can all meet with the Dalai Lama and attend his talks. Only Shugden people may not.

Imagine if the Pope on his personal website condemned any one religion or advised against them? It is simply not acceptable for any world leader, be it spiritual or secular, to ‘advise’ or condemn anyone’s faith leading to this group being segregated and hated. This is exactly what is happening now. When the Dalai Lama ‘advises’ against a certain faith, he is inadvertently endorsing hatred, violence and segregation that will ensue as a result, because he has many Tibetan followers who will carry his will into action. What else do people expect when a world famous and influential leader such as the Dalai Lama speaks against a certain practice? The power of celebrity endorsements has huge influence on the public.

That is why it is better His Holiness does not advise or speak against any religion but tolerates and accepts. Can you see someone not allowed to join in the Dalai Lama’s public talks in the monasteries because he is a Satanist, Kabbalist or follower of voodoo? That would not make sense. The Dalai Lama is supposed to embrace everyone based on the fact that we are all humans and deserve the same respect. Certainly attending a talk by the Dalai Lama, whether Buddhist in nature or secular, should not be restricted based on your religion or lack of it. The Buddha after all allowed everyone, including non-humans, to attend his talks and certainly the foremost Buddhist monk, His Holiness the Dalai Lama should emulate the Buddha.

Anyway, it also came as a surprise to me to read that the Huffington Post report had quoted me again. I have spoken out peacefully against the ban because I do not wish to see the Tibetan people being further divided. Most of all, it pains me to see Tibetan Buddhism’s reputation stained and the great masters’ works sidelined because of this ban. I do not do it for any political reasons or because I was told to say something or because I was paid to do it.

I do it because as long as the Dorje Shugden issue exists, many lamas and teachers will not be able to manifest their full activities to turn the wheel of Dharma to benefit others. Wherever they go, they will always be stained by the stigma of being a Shugden practitioner and none of their other qualities are given a chance to shine. People are being deprived of a connection to the Dharma because of this controversy, because Dorje Shugden lamas who are erudite, learned and practised have had their names blackened. I will continue to speak out for those who don’t have a voice but I do not mean any offence to His Holiness the Dalai Lama as this is a philosophical difference and it has nothing to do with my respect for him.

Once again, I must thank the Huffington Post for this report. I hope that the CTA will quickly realise that such prejudice and religious bigotry have no place in the modern world especially when the Tibetan people themselves are seeking freedom. May this article be followed by many others, to swiftly lift the veil of darkness and ignorance that has surrounded this ban for far too long. May the high lamas be able to manifest their full activities as soon as possible.

In the collective imagination of the West, Tibet is a lost Eden, a promised land which geopolitical fantasy has transformed into the embodiment of the eternal struggle between good and evil as it strains under the Chinese yoke.

But while China’s occupation of the country since 1950 has been punctuated by acts of repression and brutality, pre-occupation Tibet was certainly no Shangri-La, wrote philosopher Slavoj Zizek in a 2008 article in monthly news magazine “Le Monde diplomatique”.[1] Indeed it is widely documented that prior to Chinese occupation, the country was a feudal basket case where corruption was rife, peasants were effectively slaves and only the highest-placed monks and most powerful warlords could ever aspire to any sort of political or economic power.

While numerous human rights organisations have been quick to condemn heavy-handed Chinese rule in Tibet, they have been slower to look at accusations of discrimination and ill-treatment within the Buddhist communities which have developed around the diaspora of exiled Tibetans in India and elsewhere.

Indeed, observers have been strangely silent concerning an increasingly acrimonious dispute among Buddhists about a devotional practice which dates back over three centuries but has only relatively recently become the focus of controversy. Those on one side claim their rights to religious freedom and other more earthly liberties are being trampled, while those on the other accuse their opponents – devotees of the Buddhist deity Dorje Shugden – of being sectarian demon worshippers.

At the origin of the controversy lie a number of declarations from the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, to the effect that devotion to Dorje Shugden encourages division among Buddhists and endangers “the cause of Tibet”. Some Shugden devotees have claimed that these declarations amount to a de facto ban on their practice which has led to many practitioners being denied access to health care, education and travel and being shunned and even threatened and attacked within their communities.

Pro-Shugden efforts to draw attention to their plight, most notably via an appeal to humanitarian group Amnesty International in the 1990s and a complaint brought before the High Court in Delhi, India more than a decade later, have been unsuccessful, however.

In 1998, Amnesty declined to undertake an in-depth investigation into abuses alleged to have occurred in Tibetan settlements in India, noting that: “None of the material AI has received contains evidence of abuses which fall within AI’s mandate for action — such as grave violations of fundamental human rights including torture, the death penalty, extra-judicial executions, arbitrary detention or imprisonment, or unfair trials.”[2]

Shugden detractors jumped on Amnesty’s refusal to investigate further, saying it vindicated their claims that reports of ostracism within the Tibetan Buddhist community had no factual basis. But what the Amnesty letter actually said is that the allegations by Shugden practitioners – namely that their freedom of worship was under attack – lay outside of Amnesty’s approved ambit.

“While recognizing that spiritual debate can be contentious, Amnesty International cannot become involved in debate on spiritual issues,” the humanitarian group said.[3]

Even so, and despite the passage of almost 20 years since this communication – during which period animosity has festered on both sides – Shugden opponents continue to refer to the Amnesty letter as conclusive proof that Shugden devotees do not face discrimination of any kind within the broader Buddhist community. The Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala officially cites the letter as a proof of no wrongdoing in a special section of its website dedicated to the issue[4], warning in the same occasion against Dorje Shugden practitioners and listing the identity of Tibetan practitioners who protested.[5]

In 2010, a complaint to the High Court in Delhi, India by the Dorje Shugden Devotees Charitable and Religious Society against the Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala and the 14th Dalai Lama, respectively, was rejected with similar arguments as Amnesty International: on the grounds that it “pertains to matters of religion with which the Union of India is not concerned.” The Delhi court also said it could not address certain aspects of the complaint since they came under the jurisdiction of the courts in Himachal Pradesh, where Dharamsala is located.[6]

Referring to the above cited cases, Buddhist academic Robert Thurman, Chairman of the Tibet House, father of Kill Bill actress Uma Thurman, and called “ The Dalai Lama’s man in America” by the NY Times Magazine[7], wrote in 2014 that both Amnesty and the Delhi High Court have rejected what he calls the “false claims” of Dorje Shugden supporters that they have been denied certain human rights.[8]

The pro-Shugden website Gilded Cage sees things differently: “Actually they said there was insufficient evidence at that time, which is not surprising in a climate where anyone speaking out against the Dalai Lama would be shunned and possibly suffer physical harm. Amnesty International was also unable to comment on issues which do not fall within their narrow remit of torture and imprisonment.”[9] The Shugden allegations would effectively lie outside this remit since the Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala does not have a dedicated police force or lock people in prisons.

What does seem clear is that both sides of the divide are lax in documenting their allegations, giving little clarity to their arguments. For example, U.S. businessman Len Foley, who acted as a spokesman for the now disbanded International Shugden Community, said those who practiced open devotion to the deity cannot hold office in the exiled government and cannot get approval from the government to travel. “They’re in fear of their lives,” Foley was quoted as saying in an October 2014 article.[10] “We’re here speaking on their behalf.”

Foley does not offer any explanation of why these people should be in fear of their lives, nor any evidence that this is the case, a lapse some readers were quick to pounce on. For example, the German anti-Shugden blogger “Tenpel” – also known as Tenzin Peljor, a Media Contact of the Tibetan Government in Exile for Shugden affairs[11] – says these allegations are exaggerated and misleading. “Shugden people get access to health centres, medical treatment, schools, they have their own monasteries, land, they get travel documents etc.”

Even so, Tenzin Peljor may have unwittingly offered a less publicised insight into what is happening behind the scenes when he admitted in the same breath that “there were a few cases where over-zealous Tibetans denied some of those basic rights but there is not any policy by the Tibetan Government in Exile or the Dalai Lama to do so.”

This looks like the sort of doublespeak which Machiavelli’s Prince himself might have uttered.

The “over-zealous Tibetans” denying basic rights to others may be a reference to a directive issued by the Department of Health at the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA, the Tibetan government in exile) telling its employees to give up their Dorje Shugden practices or resign from their jobs; or to one from the CTA’s Department of Religion and Culture, demanding the eradication of Dorje Shugden monks in certain monasteries; or the one barring the issue of travel documents for Dorje Shugden practitioners; or the resolution pertaining to the expulsion of Dorje Shugden practitioners from a monastic university; or that which declares Dorje Shugden practitioners to be ‘criminals in history’; or many other registration forms explicitly excluding Dorje Shugden practitioners from administrative processes and cultural events… [12]

Moreover, were the Dalai Lama to openly call for the ostracism of Dorje Shugden practitioners, it might be seen as an open violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and could potentially alienate a number of supporters; whereas criticism of the practice, seen as an effective edict by his followers, would have practically the same effect, but without the bad publicity.

Tsem Tulku Rinpoche, the Malaysian based spiritual advisor to the Kechara Buddhist Temple and a Shugden practitioner and advocate, expressed his worries about the development of the situation for Shugden practitioners in a way aligned with Western values:

“You shouldn’t show prejudice to anyone because of their colour, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, handicaps, age, beliefs or religious choice. If I choose to worship Dorje Shugden, you have no right to speak against my belief or condemn me. If you do condemn me, you leave the door wide open for anyone who is different to be condemned.”

More from HuffPost on Dorje Shugden

Original Article

The original article on Huffington Post. Click on image to enlarge.

Addendum

Central Tibetan Administration’s Website

Below is a screenshot of Tibet.net, which is the Tibetan leadership’s website. In it, they have a section with “information” about Dorje Shugden which is designed to promote hatred, negativity and direct vulgarities towards Shugden practitioners. What kind of democratic leadership has a section like this on their site targeting a religious group? Imagine the uproar there would be if the American or Canadian, or any other democratic government had sections like this on their site for the public!

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) website which has a section on Dorje Shugden. What kind of democratic government has sections on their website which target a religious group? Click to enlarge.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Website

This is a screenshot of DalaiLama.com which is the official website of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. When this section exists on His Holiness’ website, it actually emboldens Tibetans to discriminate against and segregate Shugden practitioners. This section is basically the Dalai Lama’s ‘endorsement’ of such behaviour; when anti-Shugden individuals see this, they think it is okay to segregate against the practice “because the Dalai Lama said so”. I don’t think the Dalai Lama would agree with this but the webmaster and shadow writers behind his website should not put this type of anti-Dorje Shugden section which subscribes to discrimination against a group because of religion. In the 21st century, this is not fitting of a great spiritual leader like His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Do not discriminate tolerate; is the way to go.

If the Dorje Shugden ban is just advice and not a ban, then why is a section like this necessary on any website?

His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s website which has a section on Dorje Shugden. This section emboldens Tibetans to discriminate against Shugden practitioners because it is the Dalai Lama’s endorsement of such behaviour.

Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s Resolution Stating Government Employees Should Not Rely on Dorje Shugden

In 1996, the Tibetan leadership passed a resolution stating that all departments (and ergo their employees) should not rely on Dorje Shugden (point 8). The resolution also stated that individuals who do engage in its worship will harm the Dalai Lama’s life and the so-called Tibetan cause. That being the case, how will anyone within the Tibetan settlements and government be able to openly engage in Dorje Shugden practice after that, if their worship has been widely labelled as anti-Dalai Lama, anti-CTA and treasonous? To openly practice after that will leave them open to criticism, vulgarities, harassment and discrimination, as Dorje Shugden practitioners have been for the last 20 years. So they will be left with three options: to give up the practice (which many will not do), to practice secretly, or to give up their jobs.

A screenshot of tibet.net, showing the 1996 resolution which proclaimed that departments under the Tibetan leadership should not propitiate Dorje Shugden and that doing so will harm the Dalai Lama’s life.

This is a screenshot of tibet.net, the Central Tibetan Administration’s official website, which shows the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s unanimous resolution dated 17 March 2014 naming Dorje Shugden practitioners as criminals in history (point 3, paragraph 2).

The Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile passed a resolution on 17 March 2014 naming all Dorje Shugden practitioners as “criminals in history”. On what basis can the Tibetan leadership condemn all Dorje Shugden believers, including the elderly, infirm, young, and those not of Tibetan nationality, as criminals?

VIDEO: Dalai Lama bans Dorje Shugden practice
and expels monks

His Holiness the Dalai Lama was recorded in Drepung Monastery in 2008 clearly stating that those who refused to give up their Dorje Shugden practice should be expelled from the monasteries. His Holiness even said that if people found it difficult to fulfill this instruction, that they should say that the Dalai Lama told them to expel Dorje Shugden practitioners.

My question is this: if giving up Dorje Shugden practice is just advice, and it is up to us who we wish to rely on, then why are there such heavy repercussions for people who choose to keep the practice? As a result of His Holiness saying this, thousands of Shugden monks were expelled from the monasteries, and were forced to set up their own monasteries where they would be able to continue their Dorje Shugden practice.

VIDEO: Gaden Monastery Attacked

Since the inception of the Dorje Shugden ban 20 years ago, the CTA (Central Tibetan Administration) continues to organize a hateful campaign against Dorje Shugden practitioners. In doing so, the Tibetan leadership has gone against the very core teachings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on compassion and tolerance and thereby, misled the world over the nature of their activities. The Tibetan leadership pursues huge sponsorship and financial aid from the West in order to run its operations but they actually channel these funds towards campaigns that suppresses religious freedom within the Tibetan communities through various means to instigate violent suppression against Dorje Shugden practitioners.

This video footage shows clearly how Dorje Shugden practitioners have lived their lives in fear for the last 20 years due to the ban on Dorje Shugden. Although the Tibetan leadership and supporters have continued to use various violent and underhanded means to segregate and discriminate Dorje Shugden practitioners, the practitioners themselves have not fought back. Instead, they continue to uphold their peaceful reliance on their Dorje Shugden lineage lamas and especially the practices and teachings they have received in relations to the protector deity. The main part of the video was filmed in 2000 and it shows 3,000 lay and ordained Tibetans heading towards Gaden Shartse Monastery in South India in order to riot against a group of Dorje Shugden practitioners.

Disclaimer: This video belongs to a third party. Permission was granted for us to upload here. This video is not being used for any commercial purposes, it is being used for educational purposes only.

A Dorje Shugden practitioner enquiring about room rates at the Gaden Shartse Monastery Guest House in Majnu-ka-tilla, Delhi was rejected by the hotel staff and asked to leave.

VIDEO: France 24 reports on the Dorje Shugden issue

France 24 is a reputable news network based in France, known for their objective reporting style. They covered the Dorje Shugden issue extensively, surely a reflection of the seriousness of the issue for them to devote so much airtime to it. In their video, France 24 captured on film the discrimination against a Dorje Shugden monk.

VIDEO: Al Jazeera reports on the Dorje Shugden issue

Based in the Middle East, Al Jazeera was formed in response to the heavy influence of Western culture on the media. They are known to cover controversial topics that other news agencies may be reluctant to cover, and provide hard-hitting, objective coverage of current affairs.

Evidence of the Ban

Over the years, my students have collected evidence of the ban against Dorje Shugden. Personally, I find it quite disappointing and sad that they have been able to collect so much evidence because it just goes to show how widespread and pervasive this ban has become. As you can see below, notices banning Dorje Shugden practitioners can be found just about anywhere in the Tibetan settlements. Whether a Dorje Shugden person is trying to access healthcare or enter a restaurant, or try to buy something from a shop, they are banned everywhere and refused service. How is this just ‘advice’ when the repercussions of practising Dorje Shugden are so violent inside the Tibetan communities and settlements?

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83 Responses to Huffington Post: When Machiavelli Dons Tibetan Robes

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Joy Kam on Dec 10, 2018 at 7:08 am

Mantras are sacred verbalized words that invoke the protection and blessings of the deity to whom the mantra is ascribed. Mantras are also the manifestations of Buddhas in the form of ‘sounds’, hence the various mantras of Dorje Shugden contain the essence of the Protector.

Dorje Shugden’s mantra for increase 增长咒语
For gaining great merits and increase of all necessary needs, both material and spiritualOM BENZA WIKI BITANA PUNYE SIDDHI HUNG

Dorje Shugden’s mantra for control 控制咒语
Of worldly deities, negative people and nagas and for influencing friends towards the positiveOM BENZA WIKI BITANA WASHAM KURU HO

Dorje Shugden’s mantra to grant protection 庇护咒语
Visualize that you are in the Protector’s mandala, fully protected from outside interferences. Recite when in danger or for dangerous situations, for protection while travelling or when residing in dangerous/hostile placesOM BENZA WIKI BITANA RAKYA RAKYA HUNG

Tibet has produced many powerful meditations, rituals and guidelines to help us gain spiritual protection, gain wisdom and higher states of consciousness. In general Tibet has produced many powerful methods for the growth of our spiritual evolution. Dorje Shugden is an angel, a saint, a powerful spiritual protector-warrior who originated 350 years ago when a highly awakened Tibetan Lama fulfilled his vows to become a special being to grant protection, wisdom, material needs, safety when travelling (normal and astral travel) and spiritual awakening. Both the Great 5th Dalai Lama and the current His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama composed short yet effective prayers to invoke upon the power and blessings of this special saint and protector. One can recite either one of the prayers that you feel suits you, anytime or even daily. When you feel a special need for help, you can recite either prayer anytime. When you are feeling down, afraid or just need a blessing, you can recite them. After reciting either invocation, it is good to chant the mantra of Dorje Shugden: Om Benza Wiki Bitana Soha.

You do not have to be a Buddhist or practitioner of any religion to invoke upon the blessings and protection of this special enlightened and awakened angel Dorje Shugden. He helps all without discrimination or bias as he is filled with compassion and love. Divinity has no boundaries, they help all who call upon them.

Divination (‘mo’) Text by Dorje Shugden

This is an important divination (‘mo’) text composed by Dorje Shugden himself. Dorje Shugden took trance of the Choyang Dulzin oracle lama, the senior oracle of Gaden Shartse Monastery, and instantly on the spot composed this text within two hours.

The divination text contains information on how to use dice to do divination for the future and is known to be highly accurate. When practitioners use this text, they will be in direct contact with Dorje Shugden to get answers to questions about the future. It is for those who have good samaya with Dorje Shugden and are free of the eight worldly dharmas to be of benefit to others in divining the future.

Be blessed with these rare videos featuring explanation and advice about Dorje Shugden practice by His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche in his own voice. The teaching was requested by Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the earliest masters who taught Tibetan Buddhism in the West.

Kyabje Zong Rinpoche was an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet. At the request of Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Tibetan Buddhism in America, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche gives clear explanation and advice about the life-entrustment initiation of Dorje Shugden and how to go about the practice and get the maximum benefits in this video.

Video 2: H.H. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche speaks on the History and Lineage of Dorje Shugden (With English Subtitles)

In this video, an erudite scholar, ritual master and practitioner of the highest degree from Tibet, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche talks about the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden and how the practice arose, with examples of Dorje Shugden’s previous lives that reveal his powerful spiritual attainments and contributions. This very rare teaching was given at the request of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche’s student, Geshe Tsultrim Gyeltsen, one of the pioneers who taught Buddhism in the West to many disciples since the 1970s.

For the first time available, Dorje Shugden and his entourage of 32 asssistants of his mandala.

Dorje Shugden is a powerful protector deity who is also an emanation of Manjushri, a wisdom bestowing Buddha. Therefore, he has great ability to help us to progress further on the spiritual path. He does this by helping us to overcome obstacles and problems for the modern individual.

Due to his enlightened nature, Dorje Shugden is able to manifest 32 deities and within the same abode resides Setrap and Kache Marpo:-

1. 5 Dorje Shugden families or emanations. They consists of the following:-

– Dulzin Dorje Shugden, which performs activities to eliminate inner and outer obstacles.
– Shize, which performs activities to pacify all illnesses and disease.
– Gyenze, which performs activities to increase all desirable material and spiritual wealth.
– Wangze, which performs activities to control difficult people and circumstances.
– Trakze, which performs activities to wrathfully eliminate all insurmountable obstacles and life-threatening situations.

2. 9 Mothers. They represent protection of the five senses and developing control of the four elements. These are all attributes that signify their ability to assist tantric practitioners with their higher meditations.

3. 8 Guiding Monks. They represent the Eight Great Bodhisattvas (Avalokitesvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Samantabhadra, Maitreya, Kshitigarbha, Akashagarbha, Sarva-nivarana-viskambini) and they bring about the growth of the Dharma, through the Sangha, Dharma practitioners and Dharma establishments.

4. 10 Youthful & Wrathful Attendants. They represent the ten wrathful attendants to avert inner and outer obstacles. They are beings who are from Mongolia, China, Kashmir, India, Bengali, etc.

5. Setrap. He is a senior Dharma Protector from India and an emanation of Amitabha Buddha. He had enthroned Dorje Shugden as an authentic Dharma Protector. Therefore, he also resides within the same mandala of Dorje Shugden.

6. Kache Marpo. He is not an emanation of Dorje Shugden but he is still an enlightened Dharma Protector in his own right. He was originally known as Tsiu Marpo of Samye Monastery. However, he has placed himself under the service of Dorje Shugden as his chief minister, performing many activities in order to protect and benefit practitioners. Therefore, he stands guard at the main entrance of Dorje Shugden’s mandala. He often takes trance of qualified mediums to speak.

7. Namkar Barzin. He is the reincarnation of an old Mongolian monk and when he passed away in Phari area of Tibet, his spirit was placed as a powerful assistant of Dorje Shugden. He guards and protects buildings and great institutions especially those that benefit others. He rides on a mythical Gyaling animal that resembles a goat but with scales.

These sacred images are available on *Vajrasecrets. They are made of high quality alloy and are one of a kind. They are based on the lineage of His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche’s monastery, Tashilhunpo in Shigatse, Tibet. In fact, the iconography of these statues are based on detailed photographs taken by H. E. Tsem Rinpoche during a trip to Tashilhunpo’s protector chapel. These are based exactly as the 10th Panchen Lama’s personal collection.

Tibetans commonly refer to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and His Holiness 10th Panchen Lama as the “sun and moon” of Tibetan Buddhism. They are the center of Tibetan Buddhist civilization, which draws to its sphere of influence millions of non-Tibetan practitioners. The Panchen Lama’s incarnation line began with the 16th abbot of Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen (1570 – 1662). He was bestowed the title of Panchen Lama by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama after being declared as an emanation of Amitabha.

After being given the title, his three previous incarnations were posthumously also bestowed the title, making Lobsang Chokyi Gyeltsen the 4th Panchen Lama. He became a teacher to many Tibetans, Bhutanese and Mongolian religious figures, including His Holiness the 4th and 5th Dalai Lamas, and the 1st Jetsun Dampa of Mongolia. A prolific author, Chokyi Gyeltsen is credited with over a hundred compositions, including a number of commentaries and ritual texts that remain central in the Gelukpa tradition today. Along with his role as a teacher of the Dharma, the Panchen Lamas are usually responsible for the recognition of the rebirths of the Dalai Lamas, and vice versa.

The 10th Panchen Lama, Lobsang Trinley Lhundrub Chokyi Gyeltsen (19 February 1938 – 28 January 1989) continued both the spiritual and political roles of his predecessors. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, his contemporary, was even heard to say and echo the Panchen Lama’s own words that the Dalai Lama would safeguard Tibet from the outside while the Panchen Lama would safeguard Tibet from the inside, as he never left Tibet after the political troubles of 1959. He was truly loved by the Tibetans, all the way until his passing. When he taught, thousands of people would attend, not only from his own Gelug lineage, but masters and practitioners from all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism.

At his sprawling monastery of Tashi Lhunpo, he has a special chapel specifically dedicated to Dorje Shugden, where prayers and rituals are performed on a daily basis. In his great omniscience the Panchen Lama held Dorje Shugden as the principal Dharma protector of the monastery. He also personally propitiated Dorje Shugden among other Dharma protectors, and even wrote extensive prayers and rituals to Dorje Shugden. These rituals and prayers are contained within his ‘sung bum’ or collected works, which are provided here. As such a great lama, with an erudite and clear understanding of the Buddhist scriptures, a teacher to millions in both Tibet and China, from an established incarnation line and an emanation of the Buddha Amitabha, he could not be mistaken about his practice of Dorje Shugden.

His Holiness 10th Panchen Lama is known for his composition of commentaries and practice texts that are still in use by contemporary Buddhist practitioners both in Tibet and across the world. One of these is a powerful ritual composition propitiating the compassionate Dorje Shugden.

Upon the request by Acharya Lobsang Jangchub to compose a shorter version of the prayer (sadhana) for the exhortation of activities of Dorje Shugden, Panchen Lama immediately composed an abbreviate form of Dorje Shugden’s Kangsol. This text is entitled “Manjunatha’s (Tsongkapa) Lineage protector Dorje Shugden and five forms wrathful propitiations and confessional prayers and fulfilment of activities rites” or “Melodious sound of Accomplishment of the Four Activities” for short. Once the prayers were completed, he had signs and strong feelings that Dorje Shugden has been working hard to protect the Buddhadharma in general and the lineage of Lama Tsongkhapa specifically.

Mirroring the abilities of one of his earlier incarnations, Khedrub Je, a disciple of Lama Tsongkhapa and master of both sutra and tantra, the Panchen Lama used his compositional skill and poetic prowess to create a masterful sadhana. Worthy of note is a praise in which the first letter of each verse is a Tibetan vowel. Such compositions are rarely seen, and have historically only been used when propitiating senior Dharma protectors such as Palden Lhamo and Kalarupa.

The Panchen Lama also stated that while composing the Dorje Shugden sadhana (prayers) he was filled with a sense of happiness and bliss. He ends the composition with not only his official title but his ordination name, Tenzin Trinley Jigme Choje Wangchuk, endorsing the validity of his work. He composed the sadhana in his own Tashi Lhunpo monastery while in the Hall of Clear Light and Bliss.

“If the Dalai Lama, if His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by Dorje Shugden, then we might as well not practice Buddhism anymore. If His Holiness the Dalai Lama can have his life shortened by a so-called evil spirit, any evil spirit, then can he be Avalokiteshvara? So on one hand you say, we say, I say, everybody says, he is Avalokiteshvara; on the other hand you’re saying that he can be harmed by an evil spirit… Which one is it? Can he be harmed by an evil spirit or is he Avalokiteshvara? Do you think Avalokiteshvara, Manjushri, Vajrapani, Tara all take refuge in something else to protect themselves from Dorje Shugden? How illogical is that? How illogical of people to say His Holiness the Dalai Lama can be harmed by an evil spirit, any evil spirit or “Dorje Shugden” evil spirit. How is that possible?” – Tsem Tulku Rinpoche﻿

DON’T MISS THIS! FANTASTIC NEW GREAT STUFF! High quality videos redressing the misinformation about Dorje Shugden practice and people and the current sad Tibetan situation and why they are losing ground in the world. Powerful and truthful – CLEAR VIDEOS – https://bit.ly/2LJbo35

Will the CTA (Tibetan govt in exile) and their supporters in East and West say voodoo is evil and cannot be practiced too? Will they advise against Voodoo and say its a demon’s practice and people who practice are bad too? Truth be told, no one has the right to say anything about anyone’s religion. Listen to what this man says in the short snagged clip because he speaks well and with the truth.

This excerpt of the Swiss Television documentary presented in 1988 is a painful reminder of the hypocrisy and the sad reality of the oppression, discrimination, and ostracisation of Dorje Shugden practitioners. For 20 years, Dorje Shugden practitioners have endured this and no one supported their fight as the Tibetan leadership in exile continues to undermine their effort by denying the existence of this ban, and silencing their voice by peer pressure, flooding the media and fooling the general public with accusations that Shugden practitioners are political tools supported by the Chinese government to create discord within the Tibetan community. Please listen to their plea and please share this video far and wide to end this injustice.

Thank You Rinpoche for sharing this exciting news that our voice has been heard and speak out for other helpless and silent Sugden practitioners. I am very sad and down everytime I heard the news of CTA manipulated the ban torturing Sugden practitioners in Tibetan settlement in india for their selfish benefits. Their basic and fundamental needs has been deprived such as refused to get treatment in hospital, children can not go to school etc. What did they do? They did not kill and involving in robbery, they are just loyal to their Guru’s instruction to practice Dorje Shugden praying. Is it wrong? Did they harm anybody? CTA has been manipulating the ban behind His Holiness Dalai Lama to exaggerate the ban to cause suffering of its own people. The ban is definitely needed to lift immediately. I will help my Guru and my lifetime Protector to spread the news till the unfair ban is lifted.

I must say that it is great to read such a post by Martin Desai of Huffington Post that brought out the truth of the illegal ban to the world. After close to 21 years of sufferance by the Shugden Lamas and practitioners, may more news agencies pick up on this injustice that Tibetan Leaders practice whilst petitioning for justice over their lost of country. As the Tibetan Leaders losses more of their “refugee” appeal and China becomes more entrenched into the World’s economies, Western media will dare stand up to the popularity or should I say protected “darling”, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. Without the strength of His Holiness’ appeal, CTA will just become nobodies as they had wasted the time, effort and opportunity to be a voice heard on equal standing as Head of Country. I do sincerely hope that the Tibetan Leaders will take this as a wake up call to remove the illogical ban and restore the unity to their people. Shugden practitioners had always respected His Holiness just as our Guru, H.E. the 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche has always been respectful, even through such sufferance from vulgar abuses of defamatory accusations and even death threats. No one should have to go through such abuse when in this day and age, human rights include religious freedom. Thank you Martin Desai for picking up on this injustice and having the courage to tell it as it is to the world. Thank you Huffington Post for publishing the truth to the world. May we stop religious discrimination and promote respect in acceptance of another’s peaceful religion. May the courage of our Guru spread to give rise to the people who feared harsh punishments for voicing out their rights to pray. May the blight on Protector Dorje Shugden practice be lifted for many in need to gain the peace they seek.

Dorje Shugden people had been suffering for over 20 years and it is refreshing and exciting to see an international website and blog, Huffpost publishing a fair and logical article on the issue. For over 20 years, Dorje Shugden people had been suffering from discrimination and segregation for their own community because of their choice of belief. It was said that Tibetan Leadership had “advice” against the practice and there was no ban. It is certainly untrue with all the evidence of the ban’s existence. Dorje Shugden people are being barred from any H.H Dalai lama’s talk, both secular and spiritual while any other people from any other religion or social background can join. Dorje Shugden people are being denied of service from hospitals and clinics. Dorje shugden people are not allowed to work in government sectors. This is no longer a harmless “advice” because people are being punished by not following the “advice”. It is a straight out ban on Dorje Shugden practice.

Full respect to Martin Desai for being such a professional journalist and for portraying this 20 years issue in its fairest entirety.

He has rightly put the concluding remarks – bring down the ban for it has not created any good but harm only.

We, at Kechara will continuously speak up for the Tibetans all over the world who are condemned based on their religious preference/ practice. This is not right and It has to stop. Lord Buddha taught us 2,600 years ago that there should be no bias, attachment and anger towards all. We must practice equanimity.

I wish that Huffington Post will continue to bring such articles constantly to offer to the world a balanced view of this serious and long outstanding issue. It has caused no benefit but harm, suffering, segregation, malice, and violates basic human rights.

Please, we humbly request, Your Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to end the ban and allow reconciliation amongst all together as humans.

“To be labelled Machiavelli denotes a very negative connotation, specifically referring to politicians who are very sneaky, cunning, and lacking a moral code.
Wow ! That’s how Martin Desai sees the Tibetan Government CTA and the heads behind it !” Quote from Kecharian Grace Leong in her comments.

It is so authentic of Ms. Grace Leong to have such an impression and communicated so well in her powerful written comment.

Another description in perfection is when Mr. Martin Desai titled his article in the Huffington Post.

Even, a renowned online publisher Huffington Post managed to identify what is wrong and what is right. Freedom of religion is clearly covered under the law Universal Declaration of Human Right by Article 18.
So if the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) does not follow, what is the point of having a law and government? Aren’t they supposed to take care of the nation’s welfare?

Once again, I would like to thank Mr Machiavelli Dons and the team for the brilliant research about the Dorje Shudgen issue

It’s a uplifting and powerful news from The Huffington Post exposing of the Dorje Shugden controversy for the last 20 years. Thank you HuffPost for specking on behalf of millions of Dorje Shugden practitioners out there. Finally the pain and sufferings by the practitioner made known and reveal through the post. Many families are divided and many are suffering silently . There are many more untold, ugly incident happening cause by the ban. It will be encouraging to have more of these powerful post so as more and more people get to know and understand about the unlogical move involving the CTA and the ban on Dorje Shugden controversy Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this great news and Martin Desai , Huffpost for the second post.

To be labelled Machiavelli denotes a very negative connotation, specifically referring to politicians who are very sneaky, cunning, and lacking a moral code.
Wow ! That’s how Martin Desai sees the Tibetan Government CTA and the heads behind it !
This is a breakthrough, having a writer from a renown media like HuffPost sharing his personal non bias views of the suppression which Dorje Shugden practitioners have had to suffer the last 20 years ! Sigh (with relief) ! Finally, someone can see, feel and even express in writing the unmitigated injustice that has been done on a group of people who chose to embrace a religious practice which the CTA and Dalai Lama claim as evil, despite that every reason they gave to justify it have been refuted logically and substantially . This injustice has been totally illogical and absolutely unnecessary.
H.E Tsem Tulku Rinpoche has been one of the most consistent and vocal crusader in the cause of removing this ridiculous ban that has ONLY brought pain to many Dorje Shugden practitioners and their families and friends. As Rinpoche so rightly said

“You shouldn’t show prejudice to anyone because of their colour, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, handicaps, age, beliefs or religious choice. If I choose to worship Dorje Shugden, you have no right to speak against my belief or condemn me. If you do condemn me, you leave the door wide open for anyone who is different to be condemned.”

Martin Desai picked the most appropriate statement to close his article.
If the CTA and its leaders cannot bring any benefit to people, the least they can do is STOP BRINGING HARM to people !! Bring the Ban down immediately !!

Glad to see that HuffPost have another article to reveal the truth on what’s happening for the Dorje Shugden ban.
Thanks Mr Martin Desai for writing such a fair and well written post. 👏👍

That’s the spirit of media that revealing the truth without bias! Thank you so much HuffPost & Mr Martin Desai! Keep it up! 👍😊

Agreed with Mr Martin Desai that how could Tibetan Leadership use “criminals in history” to all the Dorje Shugden practitioners in all over the world? It’s a sweeping statement. First of all, what law have all of them broken that causing them to be called “criminals”? If someone break any law, he/she should be bring to court and we can’t just call them criminals without any proof.

I do hope that with more people aware of what’s happening, it will put pressure to the Tibetan leadership to end this discrimination, segregation ban on the Dorje Shugden practitioners that caused so much suffering to the Dorje Shugden practitioners. 🙏

About 4 million people are Dorje Shugden practitioners around the world and this figure shows that DS practice is no longer a minor practice. Personally, I think there would be more religions are truly spirit worship, and why CTA did not take actions against them but DS practitioners? Recalling the event of The 5th Dalai Lama contracted Mindrolling Lama to destroy DS. However, DS cannot be subdued because he has same nature as Manjushri and also Yamantaka. Since then The 5th Dalai Lama realized DS is not a spirit.

The real religious freedom in a democratic country is respect each other faith and beliefs. But in reality, Tibetan people suffered from the ban for the past 2 decades. It should stop now. And those who are suffered from the ban, please don’t give up but to continue and stay firm with the practice that given by the guru. Always remember to keep clean samaya with guru and follow guru’s advice no matter how much difficulties or challenges have to overcome. If we want to achieve any attainment, devotion to guru is the key to lead us in the right direction.

Thank you Rinpoche sharing this interesting article and hope the truth will reveal one day.

Thank you Martin Desai and Huffpost for 2nd post to explore on the Dorje Shugden issue. Dorje Shugden people has suffered for more than 20 years because of the ban. The ban not only affected the Tibetan, it has an huge impact on all Dorje Shugden practitioners. Dorje Shugden practitioners are not allow to attend Dalai Lama’s teachings, online sharing of Dorje Shugden practice are being attacked, Dorje Shugden are being labelled as worshpping spirit and the list goes on. How come Dorje Shugden practitioners are not allow to choose their practice? Where is the freedom to religion?

Looking forward to more post from Martin Desai and other media on Dorje Shugden issue. May this bring awareness on the ban and its impact and may this help the Dorje Shugden ban be lifted and all can practice in peace. 🙏🙏🙏

Thank you to Martin Desai for highlighting the denial of basic human rights by the CTA to Tibetans who are Dorje Shugden practitioners. These people are going through a daily torture, of the mind and spirit, by the CTA decree that takes away their human rights as mentioned in this article. These people have done no wrong, just wanting to be left in peace to live their life and having the freedom to do as their wish so long as it is within the boundary of the law of the land where they reside. And that includes their wish to do their spiritual practice of Dorje Shugden.

I will continue to speak up for these Tibetans, and so will my colleagues in Kechara, for these poor defenceless people have no media platform to voice their suffering.

Again, I thank Martin Desai for this fair and just article and I look forward to more.

Thank you HuffPost for another exposé of the Central Tibetan Administration’s (CTA) religious persecution. The way HuffPost is handling the Shugden conflict with professional impartiality has completely won me over.

Amnesty International (AI) said that it could not get involved in religious disputes but surely this must be the biggest cope out of all.

If that were to be true,

(i) AI would not have been involved in the Bosnia-Serbian conflict because that was a conflict between Bosnian Muslims and Serbian Christians. But Ai did,

(ii) AI would not have commented on any and all matters relating to the Israel-Palestine conflicts. But AI did and continues to do so,

(iii) AI would not have intervened in China’s attitude towards the religious sect Falun Gong and yet AI did,

(iv) AI would not have allowed itself to become drawn into the conflict between Myanmar Buddhist and Christians, and yet it did and continues to do so,

(v) AI wouldn’t have been involved in the conflict that arose in Eritrea, out of religious differences but again it did.

And there are many more examples, which clearly show that when it suited AI or the power-interests that steer AI, religious disputes are not an issue. This is hypocrisy at its best.

In fact, AI has also not hesitated to wade into the question of abortion when it can be equally argued that it is a human-rights versus religion debate.

AI’s letter in reply to the Shugden complaint is telling. In a formal complaint about discrimination against Dorje Shugden in India, AI brushes that aside and began talking about China. It said in the same letter:

AI campaigns on the grave violations of human rights in Tibet, as well as the rest of the People’s Republic of China. In 1997 a widespread crackdown on Tibetan nationalists and religious groups continued. At least 96 Tibetans, most of them Buddhist monks and nuns, were reported to have been detained during the year for peacefully exercising fundamental freedoms. A continuing “patriotic re-education campaign” in monasteries and nunneries has led to expulsions and arrests. Prison conditions remain harsh in Tibet and prisoners are often ill-treated for minor infringements of prison regulations.

Why would AI talk about China’s human rights issue when it had absolutely nothing to do with Dorje Shugden practitioners in India? [See below] The cynic amongst us might answer, its because Amnesty International aligns itself with American political interest and is a de facto political instrument used by America and the existing Western-centric power base. That being the case, it is more politically expedient to close one eye to the Dalai Lama’s government’s wrongdoing because the Dalai Lama is useful in American propaganda against China.

In any case, HuffPost did a brilliant job to expose this collusion and reopen an examination into the CTA’s crimes.

See Amnesty International’s Letter specifically the last paragraph:

“June 1998”
“AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL’S POSITION ON ALLEGED”
“ABUSES AGAINST WORSHIPPERS OF TIBETAN DEITY DORJE SHUGDEN”
“Amnesty International (AI) has received and studied a large amount of material alleging human rights abuses against worshippers of the Tibetan Buddhist deity Dorje Shugden. These alleged abuses are reported to have happened largely in Tibetan settlements in India.”

“None of the material AI has received contains evidence of abuses which fall within AI’s mandate for action — such as grave violations of fundamental human rights including torture, the death penalty, extra-judicial executions, arbitrary detention or imprisonment, or unfair trials.”

“While recognizing that spiritual debate can be contentious, Amnesty International cannot become involved in debate on spiritual issues.”

“AI campaigns on the grave violations of human rights in Tibet, as well as the rest of the People’s Republic of China. In 1997 a widespread crackdown on Tibetan nationalists and religious groups continued. At least 96 Tibetans, most of them Buddhist monks and nuns, were reported to have been detained during the year for peacefully exercising fundamental freedoms. A continuing “”patriotic reeducation campaign”” in monasteries and nunneries has led to expulsions and arrests. Prison conditions remain harsh in Tibet and prisoners are often ill-treated for minor”
“infringements of prison regulations.”

Thank you for providing your research on AI past human rights interventions on various countries. I cannot imagine why would AI can overlook the sufferings of the injustice human rights violations happening on Tibetan in exiled all these years. It is very sad that they brush it of as a religious dispute within the group. Now HuffPost is brave enough to report the happenings with factual information and logic. Tibetans in exiled deserve the same equal human rights as all democratic countries, not with exception.

Thank you for another powerful piece on the Dorje Shugden controversy. For the past 21 years, the unlawful ban on Dorje Shugden has caused fractions and separations among the Tibetans, not only to those in exile (India), but everywhere else around the world. The feudal thinking of Tibetans is carried forward with them since they lost their country in the 1950’s, allowing warlords and powerful monks to continue to manage the Tibetans in a dictatorial manner which further strengthen the ban of Dorje Shugden practise.

Since the establishment of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) in Dharamsala, North India, the CTA has been relying on the generous donations from westerners to establish the Tibetan community in exile. Instead, the sums were used in discriminating the Dorje Shugden people, creating constitutions, websites, videos, printing of books and promoting the discrimination of Dorje Shugden people. These can all be seen on Tibet.net and DalaiLama.com.

To-date, their financial statements have not been made transparent and looking at the little they have done for their people in the past 60 years in exile, it is obvious that the donations were not channeled to the correct areas. In addition, the CTA officers travel extravagantly overseas, having different countries citizenships and owning properties in the west. Their wealth does not match their earnings.

The CTA is supposedly led by a prime minister who has a law degree from Havard and is exposed to democracy among many other knowledge and politics in the world. Yet, he chooses dictatorship over democracy and encourages corruptions and discrimination on Dorje Shugden people.

The image of Shangrila the media have been painting Tibet in is clearly a delusion that should be exposed and this article has neutrally done so. We hope more articles like this will be written to reveal the truth behind the CTA’s intention of banning Dorje Shugden practice.

What Martin Desai said is very very true! And it really angers me that the Amnesty chose to do nothing despite the Dorje Shugden people asking for help in the past. Amnesty suppose to be fair and help, instead they chose to be politically correct to ‘support’ the Dalai Lama and His government, the Central Tibetan Administration(CTA, previously known as Tibetan Government in Exile), giving the reason this Dorje Shugden ban issue is religious related and not a human right issue. THIS IS SO WRONG when we all clearly know since 5th Dalai Lama’s time until today, it has always been politics mixing religion in Tibet, despite they want to call themselves a democratic government now. Proof? Well, when you log on to Tibet.net, you will see CTA set a special section on Dorje Shugden(they call ‘Dolgyal’) and the CTA literally put negative writings/videos to discriminate the practice of Dorje Shugden and Dorje Shugden people. THIS IS THE BEST PROOF TO SHOW HOW BADLY POLITICS HAS BEEN MIXED WITH RELIGION.

BUT AMNESTY SAID THIS IS NOT A HUMAN RIGHT ISSUE when the ‘government’ clearly institutionalize the discrimination and segregation towards Dorje Shugden people. IT IS NO DOUBT A HUMAN RIGHT ISSUE.

No point to talk how bad Dorje Shugden practice is IF THERE IS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM. If there is religious freedom, let people practice whatever they want to practice as long as they don’t break the laws. But to have some sort of laws/institutionalized discrimination and segregation towards Dorje Shugden people is CRIME.

Why always point at Dorje Shugden people and imply they are criminals whereas the CTA itself is committing crime of discriminating people’s religion and belief, violating human rights and have no respect for the principal of religious freedom?

Amnesty wants to be politically correct so much, this really disappointed me a lot. Just because China is not doing as ‘good’ as other countries in the West on human rights, it doesn’t means that CTA is democratic! IT DOESN’T WORK THIS WAY PEOPLE! CTA is literally harming democracy, harming human rights, harming religious freedom, solely by the fact that they are still mixing politics with religion!

I must thank HuffPost for being so fair and published such articles for different perspectives to surface and allowing another side of truth to be revealed. This is the true spirit of free speech. Good job HuffPost and thank you Martin Desai for writing this excellent piece.

Wow! A very big thank you to Huffington Post and Martin Desai who speaks up for Dorje Shugden ban. The title “When Machiavelli dons Tibetan robes” really give the Tibetan leadership a big slap on their face. Being an international media group, the article doesn’t bias any side, it beautifully says out the real situation, base on truth, facts. And, of course, indirectly, it speaks up for Dorje Shugden practitioners too. The truth can never be hidden. If Tibetan leadership never did what has mentioned before, if they didn’t “forcefully” prohibit the practice of Dorje Shugden, if they didn’t “forcefully” chase monks out from the monastery, if they didn’t say Dorje Shugden is a spirit, there won’t be anybody talking about it. If what they said was true, there won’t be anybody speak up about it, and they won’t be anybody “fight” for it. People speak up, voice out, “fight” for justice, is because there’s unfairness, there’s no human rights, and there’s no democracy. Now, let the Tibetans and those who anti-Shugden “see” and read, what is truth, what is logic. May the ban of Dorje Shugden be lifted soon.

It’s very unfortunate that Amnesty International concluded the Dorje Shugden issue as a religious one, and not a human rights issue, as they totally forget that religious freedom is part of the freedom of an individual or community. It’s an important freedom for individual in the democracy country at this day and age. By saying Dorje Shugden issue as merely a religious issue is no difference from a government or police authority saying domestic violence committed by a husband/wife to his/her partner is a domestic issue, and nothing can be done by the authority to the violence; and let the victim of violence to continue sufferings.

If the world and human rights groups like Amnesty International keep ignoring the Dorje Shugden issue or other related human rights issues, we are part of the culprit to inflict more sufferings to innocent people who just exercising the basic human rights of religious freedom.

The Dorje Shugden ban and so much sufferings have been caused to so many for the past 20 years, remind me of the saying”The world suffers a lot. Not because the violence of bad people. But because of the silence of the good people.”

We hope the HuffPost article can create more awareness and have the Dorje Shugden issue solved, cease the pain it has caused to so many people since 1996.

I agree very much with you Wah Ying. It is scary to even to just think.

“If the world and human rights groups like Amnesty International keep ignoring the Dorje Shugden issue or other related human rights issues, we are part of the culprit to inflict more sufferings to innocent people who just exercising the basic human rights of religious freedom.”

I truly thanks Huffpost for posting this 2nd news on Dorje Shugden’s ban. Even when the Dorje Shugden’s ban is so clear, and, yet, on the social media like Facebook and Twitter, there are people whom i suspect paid by CTA to attack people who posting about Dorje Shugden.

For 20 years, the Dorje Shugden’s ban have many negative impact. Not only the high lamas’ name are stain by this ban, they can’t even turn the wheel of dharma. The families in Tibet are being separated, already in exile, they become the exile within their own community. Many samaya within guru and student have broken because of this ban. So many fear, anger created because of this ban!

I thanks Huffpost for this honest report and not bow down by the effect of the power of celebrity endorsements. Finally, there is “voice to speak” for those who being silenced.

Thank you to Martin Desai and Huff Post on speaking up on the Dorje Shugden issue. It helps to promote real religious freedom and to have mutual respect for the differences of opinion in each other’s faith.Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile’s unanimous resolution dated 17 March 2014 naming Dorje Shugden practitioners as criminals in history strongly showed no respect to their own peoples and others practitioners from others countries besides the fact that is no religious freedom. Tibetan Leadership, please respect us as a Malaysian. Thank you again to Martin Desai bring light to the Dorje Shugden issue and promote peace.

I thank Martin Desai so very much, for having the courage and insight to bring light into the Dorje Shugden issue. The Dorje Shugden is not a simple issue to understand, and I think Martin Desai did well to explain the issues from both sides of the divide.

I also agree with the article that says that Amnesty International may need new parameters to look at what constitutes a human rights violation. Dorje Shugden people for the past 20 years or so have experienced so much problems, difficulties and sufferings, I hope all Human Rights agencies existing today can re-evaluate, their standard operating procedures because there are Dorje Shugden who are being discriminated and have their human rights violation acted upon them.

I rejoice once again. Thank you Huffpost for writing this unbiased article highlighting the issues faced by Dorje Shugden practitioners. This piece of article finally shed some lights and hope to the suppressed group and now more are exposed to the truth behind this ban. It is time for this ban that afflicts discrimination, violence and great suffering come to an end. Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the report published by HuffPost. May more and more people stand up to reveal the truth and protect Dorje Shugden practitioners from being continuously discriminated, mistreated, abused and attacked because of holding on to the Dharma practice given by respective lineage Gurus. And may the ban of Dorje Shugden will be lifted as soon as possible .🙏

Given the circumstances, it is pertinent to note the Achilles heels to Machiavelli’s “tricks” as revealed by Machiavelli himself i.e. the power of the citizens who are able to see through these manipulations. In fact, Machiavelli raised the crucialness of citizens to notice that they were being manipulated or duped into being submissive and less critical by politicians (despite his obvious lack of faith in general of the people’s abilities to “figure it out”).

Amongst Machiavelli’s “words of wisdom” to citizens (to safeguard interests and the system) are the citizens’ responsibilities to sharpen their senses and notice the ways in which power is abused and the ways in which leaders overstep and stealthily strip away freedoms and standards, particularly when such leaders start making arguments designed to pit one group of citizens against another.

Thus, for the grave injustice towards discriminated Dorje Shugden practitioners to be addressed and even be brought to an end, it is up to citizens/people to see through the dirty tricks that politicians use to get one over on them and also to manipulate them into submission as well as uncritical stance.

On that note, it is great that Huffington Post saw fit to boldly expose and address objectively controversial issues like this which some lacked the integrity or interest to do so.

I rejoice that Huffington Post highlights this discrimination, persecution, and ostracisation of Dorje Shugden practitioners that has been going on for over 20 years.

Just like what Martin Desai said, not many human rights organisations and even media talk about this issue. The Tibetan monks who are Dorje Shugden practitioners, especially the old monks, some were abandoned by their caretakers and students due to the fear of persecution by their own ‘government’ and members or society for the crime of associating with Dorje Shugden. Many families ties were broken because of this ban on Dorje Shugden practice, the great Buddhist monastic universities were seen displaying signages that disallow those who practice Dorje Shugden to even make offerings to the monks/ institution, and sadly the whole saga resulted in even monks refusing to carry out last/ funeral rites for Dorje Shugden practitioners.

In this day and age, the online media with huge reach like Huffington Post has the huge power and influence to direct the public to important matters. Journalists like Martin Desai taking the time to further investigate the plight of Dorje Shugden practitioners and lending his powerful voice to the millions whom most of them have no voice, or whose voice was made unheard is very empowering.

Nelson Mandela once said, “When a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw,” and in the case of Dorje Shugden practitioners, they were condemned and made criminals directly due to the resolution of Tibetan Parliament in Exile in Dharamsala, India.

I hope Huffington Post continues to bravely expose the repression and oppression of Dorje Shugden practitioners and I urge more media to protect public interest against this injustice and create more public awareness about this denial of religious freedom, despite the claim that the Central Tibetan Administration is democratic.

What Martin reported is true. Many are very quick to jump on the injustice of China suppressing the Tibetans, but many are not willing to pay attention of the injustice that has happened, and is still happening within the Tibetan in exile. May be it is because of the fame of HH Dalai Lama, I am not sure.

But the lack of check and balance within the Tibetan in exile is really alarming. Many Tibetans do not know do not understand democracy, and it can be dangerous. And their government CTA purposely keep their people naive so that CTA can control them much easily.

What Dorje Shugden practitioners want is quite simple: Just a statement from HH Dalai Lama Himself to stop the segregation and discrimination. That would solve most of the issue. I sincerely wish HH Dalai Lama relieve the suffering of the segregation and discrimination.

People being discriminated just for different belief system is uncivilised. For over 2 decades of suppression and discrimination, Dorje Shugden practitioners still do not give up this practice, it shows how resilient they are due to their strong faith in this deity. In this democratic world, no leaders would ban certain deities or belief system in their countries unless it causes harm and damages to the country. To date, there’s no proof of Dorje Shugden people causing any form of damages to the society, not even in the Tibetan community. When the society heavily promote human rights to the world and demand for equality for LBGT group, animals rights, defending refugees and migrants, protecting children and women from abuse, etc… Any of the human rights organisation cares about how there are actually groups of people living under fear and suppression just because the figure they pray to is so-called “ban” by their leader? How backwards yet unnecessary?

This piece of article finally shed some lights and hope to the suppressed group and now more are exposed to the truth behind this ban. Thank you Huffpost. Looking forward to more posts in such nature soon!

Excellent expose of ostracism of the Buddhist community by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) hidden for 20 long years under the banner of ‘evil spirit worshipper’ of Tibetan Buddhism. Martin Desal of Huffpost did a good job uncovering the truth and writes without fear and favour.

While Amnesty International claims that is beyond their ambit to investigate into conflicts of religious affairs it should recognise that the issue isn’t about who is right and who is wrong in practising a particular religion but it is about violation of human rights to freedom of religion (evidences are aplenty if Amnesty cares to investigate further) which is the fundamental rights of every human being. Amnesty should not overlook this issue but should extend to cover every aspect of human rights violation including rights to religion.

The German blogger “Tenpel” is on the payroll of the CTA to counter and deflect all “allegations’ of Shugden people. There are plenty of evidence out there to support this nasty and inhumane discrimination on Shugden people which has affected everyone globally practising the deity.

It is time now this crazy ban must stop. It is also counter productive for both the CTA and Shugden people.

Once again, thank you Huffpost for writing this unbiased article highlighting the issues faced by Dorje Shugden practitioners. The so called “allegations” made against the Tibetan leadership are actually legit, they are not without proof. The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) had monasteries, clinics, restaurants and shops put up signs to discriminate and ostracise Dorje Shugden practitioners merely because His Holiness the Dalai Lama said that Dorje Shugden is a demon. (See more here: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/dorje-shugden/to-sum-it-up.html)

Recently, His Holiness also said that the Buddha was not born in Nepal, so should the Dalai Lama fanatics also discriminate and ostracise those who believe that the Buddha was born in Nepal since it seems only what His Holiness says is correct? My point is, His Holiness can say what he wants because it’s freedom of speech, but his fanatics should not force or criminalise those who do not share the same view as His Holiness because it is wrong and it is an infringement on human rights and religious freedom. In the 21st century, NO ONE will tolerate such barbaric acts of the Central Tibetan Administration. 👎

Wow! This is such a powerful post. Thank you for being the voice of the “victims” for this group of Dorje Shugden practitioners who has been suffering for years now.

Is interesting how Amnesty International has such a narrow kind of definition on what should be investigated and what should not be. In today’s world with technology advancement , methods of torture has changed tremendously but the end result is still violence , injustice and suffering. When a prominent figure such as Dalai Lama condemning DS practitioners in the past constantly during talks, it is enough for the rest of the Tibetans to react negatively towards this group of people. Majority of the Tibetans takes whatever Dalai Lama words as “instructions” thus these practitioners suffers tremendously. And the stigma stays on

When CTA says there is no ban and DOrje Shugden practitioners has equal rights , then all of us asked, why is there a section of the Dogyal practice published onto their official website. Does not make sense at all. By publishing Dorje Shugden under their website as Dogyal (demon) wouldn’t it provoke many Tibetans who has loyalty to Dalai Lama react negatively to them?

Once more Huffpost shows that it is a true journalistic institution, bringing light to the issue surrounding the practice of the Dharma protector Dorje Shugden. This piece shows clearly what both sides think and the treatment from both sides towards each other. As Martin Desai clearly shows, the issue is a confusing one with many points of view and many accusations. However, one thing is for certain, in our day and age now persecution, oppression or discrimination in any shape or form is acceptable.

Rather than base our lives on differences and being preoccupied with these differences, we need to strive to live in peace. For Dorje Shugden practitioners, all we ask is that we are allowed the right to live, work and pray in peace and be a part of an integrated democratic society, the hallmark of which is a community that does have many differences, such as race, religion, creed, sexuality, gender, etc, but one that is brought together from a higher perspective, that of human unity.

He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation. ~ Machiavelli, Chapter 15, The Prince.

The sad reality is, the Tibetan leaders justify the use of immoral means to achieve their selfish aims.

They openly criticised Dorje Shugden practice in their official websites, and even published the name list of Dorje Shugden practitioners.

Why? For what reason?

Isn’t this action is like calling the other Tibetans to discriminate Dorje Shugden practitioners and they became the target for abuse and violence?

In this SECOND EXPOSÉ of the Dorje Shugden issue in The Huffington Post or more widely known as HuffPost, it gave yet another unbiased covers of this issue by exposing the uncalled for manners of Central Tibetan Administration in handling the Dorje Shugden practitioners.

The article also expose how the Tibetan leadership influenced their ‘friends’ in the Amnesty International to decline carrying out investigation into alleged abuses that occurred in Tibetan settlements in India. Similarly the complaint brought before the High Court in Delhi was rejected with lame excuses.

My highest respect and appreciation to Huff Post for your continue support to right the wrongs and for upholding the basic human rights of all Dorje Shugden practitioners. Thank you so much Mr Martin Desai for this unbiased article to highlight this issue. So much pains and sufferings had incurred due the unjust ban. It’s time to end it.

Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this blog post with the additional details.

Most of all, thank you for given us the DorjeShugden practice that benefited so many of us _/\_

When I first read the article, I thought it was a little heavy-handed in the way it treated the subject. I think the writer was fair on both sides and he was only writing from what he can interpret from facts.

I wasn’t used to the fact that he was explaining based on what anybody from the outside who is looking at the Dalai Lama’s Dorje Shugden ban from an unbiased perspective. I had busy and I didn’t finished the article so that was what I felt as i was forming my opinion of the article.

One thing is for sure, the writer does a pretty decent job of summarising a rather complicated conflict and gives a rather balanced viewpoints from both sides with the likes of Len Foley and Thurman thrown in. In the beginning, it paints a rather unsavoury picture of the whole Dorje Shugden issue. Whether you buy into the ban or not, it leaves you feeling uneasy. It is because of credibility of Huffington Post, detractors would find it hard to convincingly refute or disagree.

Nonetheless, the ending was an unexpected sweeping end, with rinpoche completely transforming the tone of the article from conflict to resolution and from despair to hope. It was non-partisan, peace-making and universal and tender message of all-embracing acceptance. Rinpoche’s quote was the perfect end and perhaps a hope for the future. Wonderful work! Martin Desai for crafting another powerful article that reflect the current situation and a possible future resolution of this whole issue.

Thank you HuffPost and Martin Desai for writing and publishing the report to point out the injustice, discrimination, abuse and ill treatment endured by many Dorje Shugden practitioners ever since the ban of Dorje Shugden was officially started 20 years ago. This ban has caused the increasing hatred, disharmony and dispute among the Tibetan Buddhists community that has even affected the non-Tibetan Dorje Shugden practitioners as victims of discrimination to the extent of all Dorje Shugden practitioners are declared as ‘criminals in history’ by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). This declaration of Dorje Shugden practitioners as ‘criminals in history’ is baseless and not aligned with any countries’ laws and regulations, where the religion democracy is being enforced except in CTA’s own legislation.

Besides, I humbly request and propose to Amnesty International to withdraw their previous letter that stated the complaints made by the victims of the Dorje Shugden discriminations were invalid and not considered as human rights issue but more on religion issue. The current discrimination faced by many Dorje Shugden practitioners are getting serious and obvious enough as the hatred and negativity level towards Dorje Shugden practitioners is increasing day by day due to the falsified reasons given by CTA such as by practicing Dorje Shugden, H.H. the Dalai Lama will be harmed and His life will be shorten, Dorje Shugden practice will cause harm to Tibet and the separation of Tibetans. In fact, politics should not interfere with one’s religion practice because we are responsible to choose our personal religion practice that can determine our quality of life either in spiritual or worldly aspects. We respect and love His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, and at the same time, we humbly request the Dalai Lama to lift the ban of Dorje Shugden to end the sufferings endured by many Dorje Shugden practitioners.

Moreover, Dorje Shugden is being claimed as spirit by the CTA, which is totally untrue. If Dorje Shugden is a spirit that can harm the practitioners, the four million over Dorje Shugden practitioners from around the world will never continue to pray and practice Dorje Shugden as their Dharma Protector. This is a very strong evidence to show that Dorje Shugden, which is an emanation of Manjushri, will only benefit the practitioners in every aspect in order to protect and keep the practitioners to stay along the Dharma path heading towards achieving the higher level of attainment and ultimately enlightenment according to the teachings of Buddha Shakyamuni.

Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the report published by HuffPost. May more and more people stand up to reveal the truth and protect Dorje Shugden practitioners from being continuously discriminated, mistreated, abused and attacked because of holding on to the Dharma practice given by respective lineage Gurus. May the harmony and unity will be restored within Tibetan community and may the ban of Dorje Shugden will be lifted as soon as possible for the growth of Buddhadharma.

Excellent and insightful coverage of the intricacies and shadow play behind the Dorje Shugden controversy. Its rare for a journalist to look past the general perception of idyllic Tibet to uncover the murkiness behind the scenes, and for this I applaud the efforts of Martin Desai.

I hope there will be more pieces such as this from Huffpost as well as other major media portals. It’s one thing to have different opinions about religion but quite another to condemn an entire group of people for their religions choice AND turn an entire community against them.

Finally, someone has looked beyond the Free Tibet cause and saw what is really happening in Tibetan community itself. Since 1996, Dorje Shugden practitioners have been segregated and ostracised in the Tibetan community. Many families and friends, students and teachers are separated because of the ban. CTA continues to use Dalai Lama to promote peace all around the world so they can get financial support but yet they created conflict within their community and as a result, there is no peace at all.

Thank you for writing this unbiase artcle on Dorje Shugden issues with clear evidence. I hope more and more people realise how hypocric Tibetan leadership is.

When fundamental human rights are jeopardized so blatantly it is a light of hope when truth seekers do thorough research and share their finding with the public so that we become aware and informed to make sound decisions of support.

It is time for this ban that afflicts discrimination, violence and great suffering come to an end. Such atrocity can only end when the world knows of the truth and make a stand for humanity. We have ended much injustice over the history of mankind as we fought for gender equality, animal rights, environmental preservation etc.

Our journey to preserving what is correct to uphold our humanity within goes on. And right now, before us, is this opportunity to do the right thing. Share this news. It is big news when those who pledge to bring peace and protection cause fear and damage.

t is interesting that the title of this report says “When Machiavelli dons Tibetan Robes”, it present a strong connotation that Tibetan Buddhist community is in a bad shape under the leadership of Dalai Lama. The very cause that won Dalai Lama the Nobel Prize – religious harmony – had failed miserably among Tibetans for more than two decades.

Strangely, international media seems to gladly let this elude their radar, perhaps like The Amnesty, the Dorje Shugden issue has always been out of their mandate – a religious issue rather than a human rights issue. Having no dirty laundry to air, CTA continues to be the epitome of an oppressed state who promotes democracy and hence continue to enjoy generous donations and sponsorships from the West.

All the top guns involved in tihs lucrative business of getting funds from the West had obtained USA or European nations citizenship where they have houses and their children are studying or living there. So, yes, it is incredible to the high degree of unethicality by the Tibetans leadership and Dharamsala office. Therefore the word “MACHIAVELLI” is apt.

Thank you for this share. It really beggars belief to know of this Tibetan government exercising tyranny over its population instead of bringing them together.

I guess when its motto is that of “divided we fall” and play victim so that Independence is out of reach, they hope to continue their “parasitic” existence on the good people of India, America, England etc…

The sad thing is after 60 Years of “fighting” for independence, there really wasn’t much of a fight when they are so consumed by a “self prreservation order” to be refugee status. The sickening thing I understand is that they use the good funds and donations which are meant to improve their own Tibetan people to instead fund “anti-shugden” campaign.

I hope all the good people who so willingly donate to Free Tibet have a good read of all related articles that Huffington Posts produced.

I agree with H.E. Tsem Rinpoche regarding the effect of this illegal and inhumane ban on the Dorje Shugden practice. It has prevented many high lamas from manifesting their full activities and fulfilling their sacred missions in this life. What a waste! It’s about time the CTA put aside their politics and allow Shugden lamas to openly practise and turn the wheel of Dharma without fear of having their names blackened.

Thank you Martin and Huffington for bringing the issue of the ban and the controversy over the practice of Dorje Shugden out of the closet( where it had been kept for the last 20 years) into the open. What you voice here is fair and balanced , and at the same time you have raised a few real and serious concerns . One of them is why the ban has been on for the last 20 years without any steps being taken to resolve it.

As is pointed out, the 2 attempts by the victims of the ban to raise greater awareness to a ban that has brought so much suffering over 20 years to the millions of Dorje Shugden practictioners,, had met with failure. Both the Amnesty International and the Indian High court mistakenly saw it as a religious issue which was outside their domain of jurisdiction. In reality, as Tsem Rinpoche has pointed out , it is a human rights issue and should have been addressed as such from the beginning.

Religion is a personal choice and it is every person’s basic right to choose his or her own faith.No spiritual leader should criticise anyone’s choice. We , Shugden practitioners, believe that Dorje Shugden is a Buddha and an emanation of Manjushri. We have been shown time and again how our faith in Shugden has not been a misguided faith.He has given us unwavering care and protection as we practice the path of Dharma we have chosen.

Thank you Martin of Huffington Post for bringing to light and highlighting the underlying issues that are involved – the Tibetan Leadership demonising the practice of Shugden, the origin of the controversy and the criticism of Dorje Shugden as a spirit by the Dalai Lama and endangering his life and the cause of Tibet, and causing division. These issues are being played up by the Tibetan leadership, who have capitalised on the fact that the masses are devoted to the Dalai Lama and idolise him like many idolise celebrities.

Amnesty International must recognise that the Shugden ban and discrimination is not a religious issue but a human rights issue. As Huffington Post rightly points out, it is not the Chinese that are causing suffering to Tibetans, but the division and split within the Tibetan communities.

Besides the suffering and the disunity and schism created by the ban, the real concern as pointed out by Rinpoche is that the ban and the stigmatising that came with it is preventing many great erudite Shugden Lamas from spreading the Dharma everywhere to benefit others. Dharma is the only means to ultimate peace.The Dharma so painstakingly preserved may be lost because of a ban that is illogical and has no meaning and purpose.

Another piece of great journo work by Martin Desai and HuffPost! Love how Mr Desai writes but more importantly, how objective and insightful his writing is.

I thank Mr Desai for writing this as the world needs to know the truth about the Dorje Shugden ban. Shugdenpas like me have been attacked online by nameless people in the name of Tibetan Cause or the Dalai Lama. I am living in another country far away from CTA but yet the ban affects me and my fellow Shugdenpas around the globe as much as Tibetans.

To declare us to be ‘criminals in history’, just because our belief is different is just not right. It’s 2017 and this religious apartheid must stop.

The ripple effect of being part of the “criminals in history” being Shugdenpas as labelled by CTA had been felt by me even as a Malaysian. Questions had been asked of me why should I be a member of Kechara whose Founder is a Shugden Lama. Questions of how I can have faith in Dorje Shugden when His worship is banned by the Dalai Lama who is the Head of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

All these falsity had to be borne by us in Malaysia even when our national constitution permits freedom of religion.

Even though attempts had been made to right the wrong on Shugdenpas, the efforts had not been successful. This lack of success had been taken advantage of by CTA who stubbornly continues with the Ban and discrimination against human rights.

It is heart warming to see Mr. Martin Desai follow through with his original article at Huffington Post on 14th November 2017and to emphasise logical and documented explanations of the true situation by H.E the 25th Tsem Rinpoche with the current posting per Rinpoche’s further clarification in this blog.

I rejoice that the truth is now revealed and may the world not be blind to the bullying tactics of CTA.

Yes, the Amnesty International response was taken out of context. They clearly state that the Dorje Shugden issue is out of their mandate so they didn’t decline to investigate because there wasn’t any evidence of wrongdoing. They declined because within the confines of their constitution, they are not allowed to pursue the matter.

But of course, the Tibetan leadership have taken this out of context and spun it to bolster their claims about Dorje Shugden and justify their enforcement of the ban. They did the exact same thing with the memo issued by the Chinese leadership concerning religious freedoms, extracting one line from a multiple-page memo to accuse Dorje Shugden people of having a link to China.

The fact the CTA will take things out of context and twist it to suit their purposes, it supports the statement you’ve made in this article regarding their engagement of Machiavellian tactics.

Thank you again for your coverage of this issue Mr Desai, it was a pleasure to read. The objectivity is refreshing and appreciated!

It is very bad to condemn other people’s belief / faith / religion. It is also unfair to ban a certain practice of a religion because the practice may not be suitable for certain people and does not means that it is not suitable for others who finds it beneficial. By putting restriction on Dorje Shugden practitioners from going to schools, hospitals, restaurants, government offices, etc is being unfair too.

Everyone should be given their freedom to choose whatever religion they want to follow or practice and their choice should be respected as well. We are not suppose to force a person into a religion if they do not want to. Why want to call them names and bad mouth them? This is not what a religion teaches us to do.

Here, I wish the ban will be lifted very soon and sufferings of the people will end so that there is peace, love and harmony.

A big thank you to Martin Desai and Huff Post on speaking up on the Dorje Shugden issue that has clouded and destroyed the unity of Tibetan Buddhist practitioners worldwide.

The Dorje Shugden ban, though a religious subject, is a clear example of infringement of Human Rights and the Freedom of Choice that all human beings deserve. There are calls for Animal Equality, for equality of love/gender, for equality of women’s rights, and therefore, it is about time the light shines for the equality that Dorje Shugen practitioners deserve, which is no different to all the others above. Not many are willing to shine the light here, therefore this articles from Huffington Post, adds on to the beacon of light that Rinpoche has been advocating for over the past few years, giving millions across the globe hope.

What the Tibetan Leadership has done is a breach of rights, and a downright abuse of power and corruption, that has been going on for far too long. Where has all the funds they have received, supposed to be used for their cause to regain independence gone to? Why have they not focussed on issues much more imperative than the propitiation of Dorje Shugden? Where have they been for their people? Why are TIbetans still segregated? Why are they still holding refugee status after 60 years? What has the TIbetan Leadership been doing, besides gains for themselves?

Why do Dorje Shugden practitioners have to be the scapegoat for the Tibetan Leadership’s failure?

Anyone who practices voodoo, black magic, satanic, witches can attend HH Dalai Lama’s talk except Dorje Shugden practitioners. This is clearly ou tright discrimination and seggregation against Dorje Shugden practitioners like many of us in the world. In my country Malaysia, everyone has the right to practice religious freedom or any type of spirituality they wish to choose provided its law abiding. Furthermore, it makes no sense to ban a spiritual practice that has been propitiated by Tibetans for the last 400 years including the Dalai Lama himself until he issued a ban on this practice based on unfounded reasons such as Dorje Shugden is a spirit, he harms the Dalai Lama’s life and harms the Tibetan cause as claimed by the CTA. This discrimination still exists and there is proof within this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4EqbhUZCgU

This post is coming on none too soon. There are many families divided and monks separated from their monasteries in these 20 years due to a religious practice. Everyone should be allowed the religious practice of their choice even though it may not be agreeable to everyone else.

As Rinpoche pointed out calling Dorje Shugden practitioners “criminals in history” is really laying it a bit too thick, not mention that it is a resolution of the Tibetan government, in exile. Putting practitioners on the same platform as Hitler is really an affront. In doing this, they have crossed the border of no man’s land into someone else’s backyard. A religion is a religion and has nothing to do with politics. One of the formless realm and the other of the form realm, like water and oil, they don’t mix. Imposing the ban on all Dorje Shugden practitioners is really not fair as the Tibetan government is just that, Tibetan government and a government in exile at that.

That is so very wrong on many levels especially from the human level. If the Tibetan government declared themselves as democratic, they should allow freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

May more see the truth of the situation and work to reconcile the divide. Please lift the ban so that all can live in harmony, unity and peace.

Thank you, Huff Post Martin Desai, for sharing the other side of the this controversial and to the world.

Personally, I am not interested in politics but was in shocked when finding out there are segregation and disunity among Tibetan Buddhism due to a group of worshippers who simply wish to continue Dorje Shugden practice and they are not allowed to when the ban was imposed by the Tibetan Government in 1996.

My impression of Buddhism has always been calm, serene, compassionate, love, caring, kindness and almost anything but the opposites. Therefore this is very shocking. Monks and nuns were expelled from monasteries; families and friends became enemies; Shugdenpas are not allowed to patron to any premises run by anti-Shugden.

What if a Tibetan is seriously injured and need help urgently and he/ she practices Dorje Shugden? So, does it mean that the Tibetan government-run hospital won’t be excepting this case? This is simply human right-violation due to different standing in a religious view which should not have happened if there is ‘NO’ ban imposed.

Shugdenpas are no criminals and should be given religious freedom and Dorje Shugden is a Buddha and not a scapegoat for Tibetan Government for their failure to obtain independence after 60 years in exile.

Thank you, Rinpoche for sharing this article with the hope that many more to come. It is important for the mass to know that Dorje Shugden has nothing to do with the Tibetan politics but has been dragged into these for their failure to gain independence after 60 years.

Perhaps the Tibetan Government-In-Exile have no intention to return to their homeland after all. Something for all to ponder.
With respect and sincere may I request H.H. the Dalai Lama lift the ban soon. Thank You.

Thank you Martin and Huffington post for highlighting the plight of Dorje Shugden practitioners who have been sidelined all this while since the ban was enforced. Definitely this article will bring some hope and some comfort for the fight for freedom to have equal rights as everyone else. This article states the truth without taking sides and mixing politics with religion has cause nothing but misery to all.

Amnesty International’s decision at that time did not conclude that there is no such discrimination but it is because they see it as a religious issue and is out of their jurisdiction. However, the CTA has twisted this decision as proof that there is no discrimination. Let’s hope that Amnesty international will look into this again as an oppression of religious freedom. It has been more that 20 years people have suffered from this unjust treatment and should end now. There are more evidence that can support the case. in fact, the addendum in this article provides most, if not all, of the evidences.

Like what Rinpoche has stated above, everyone should have the right to choose their practices and should not be ostracised for their choice. The Dalai Lama is promoting kindness and peace to the world but not to his own people. Isn’t this rather perplexing?

I am sad that Amnesty International did not see it fit to take up the case of this glaring, institutionally-led discrimination against Dorje Shugden practitioners and those related to them, in the 1990s and right up to the 1998 decision as the article quoted.

Perhaps it was not politically correct at that time in light of His Holiness Dalai Lama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. It would not have jived with H.H. public and global persona as a refugee, peace and human rights ambassador.

This would have made it difficult to persuade anyone to take up a human rights and discrimination complaint against His Holiness Dalai Lama’s government in exile then, more so for an organization such as Amnesty International whose existence is rooted in supporting human rights whom the Dalai Lama is/was the poster boy for.

Fast forward almost three decades later and after so much more evidence of this discrimination has surfaced, even glaringly on the Central Tibetan Administration’s own official website, I do not see why a fresh look at this case cannot be undertaken by Amnesty International.

It is all too easy to deny a person’s human rights if you consider them as “less than” you. But how does this happen? At the heart of all forms of discrimination is prejudice based on concepts of identity, and the need to identify with a certain group. This can lead to ignorance and even hate.

Some governments reinforce their power and the status quo by openly justifying discrimination in the name of “morality”, religion or ideology. It can be cemented in national law – such as by restricting women’s freedom – despite breaking international law. Certain groups can even be viewed by the authorities as more likely to be criminal simply for who they are, such as being poor, indigenous or black.

Sometimes people are criminalized directly for who and what they are – such as being gay. Sometimes it happens indirectly – for example employers asking for a high-level of proficiency in a native language when the tasks involved do not actually require it.
In many countries racism is nourished by increasingly xenophobic responses to immigration.

Amnesty is calling for
Governments to…
• Get rid of discriminatory laws and release anyone who is in prison because of them.
• Protect everyone – whoever they are – from violence.
• Draw up new laws and build institutions that tackle the root causes of discrimination.
• Lead from the front – never exploit or use people’s discriminatory beliefs for political ends.

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” By Martin Luther King, Jr.
Thanks Huffington Post for this article pointing out the grey area Dorje Shugden practitioners are positioned, where their basic rights are suppressed while not qualified to get help at the same time.
Majority of the Tibetan that suffered from the Dorje Shugden’s ban are not tech-savvy nor rich with knowledge nor money to speak out, they are not even able to put their suffering into valid evidence.
Although it’s just connected by the same spiritual practice, International Pro-Shugden parties are working very hard to fight for basic rights, for the Dharma brothers and sisters; and perhaps it’s more on to fight for humanity.
Tsem Tulku Rinpoche is very right on the stance on religious freedom, no one should be treated like Dorje Shugden practitioners in Tibetan exile. Moreover, their leader is someone who preaches love and peace, this is ironically not right.

Despite our constant respect for HHDL, the ban over Dorje Shugden has caused so many discrimination and incovenient to me and my fellow members.

There are many Buddhist organisation and Temples in Malaysia, the rumours of this ban and the image of Dorje Shugden that has been tarnished by CTA has made much animosity within the society and other Buddhists against the Dorje Shugden practitioners, especially to a Buddhist organisation like us – Kechara House Buddhist Organisation Malaysia, where our main Dharma Protector practice is non other than Dorje Shugden himself, which we strongly believe he is the emanation of Buddha Manjushri himself. We were not welcome to some of the Buddhist organisation, some even posted a notice at their main entrance stating that Dorje Shugden practitioners are not welcome to enter their premises. I have been traveling to India, Nepal and Tibets few times, and I have witnessed the segregation and violence done to the local Dorje Shugden practitioners. Monks were segregated, Monasteries were split up, friends and family became enemies. Many were afraid for their family safety and decided to remain silence and give up this practice. I felt sad this is happening, and many people are still helpless worried for their lives and safety.

Nonetheless, I believe all this issue should be resolve by calling a dialogue between HHDL and important representatives of Dorje Shugden practitioners, we should resolve this in a peaceful manner because we are good people and good Buddhist practitioners.

I praised Martin Desai of HuffPost of highlighting this issue and report it without ant bias. Millions of Dorje Shugden people desperately looking for their freedom again, and most importantly, Tibet and Buddhist practitioners should restore our harmony.

It such an agony that back since the 1990s the Pro-Shugden efforts to draw attention to their plight, most notably via an appeal to humanitarian group Amnesty International was made, and it been 25 years or more and have prevail no results since. Thru this years, I would imagine the dispositon life of the Dorje Shugden’s practice having this plight and predicament. It is great that today, Huffpost and Martin DeSai have made this article internationally and as an independence party to spill the beans of truth.

I am a student of Tsem Rinpoche’s & a Dorje Shugden’s practioner residing in Malaysia. Our organization have been unwaveringly sharing on social media (youtube, twitter, instagram, FB) with the motivation to educate, spread the truth about Dorje Shudgden’s lineage, benefits, practices and etc., & as such our Guru, Tsem Rinpoche and our members, Pastors, or practioners receives abusive words, being called animals’ name and etc. It is indeed very damaging to have this words received, and I am highligting this issue is not expressing discontent or seeking empathy, but not able to imagine what kind of action of sufferings the Dorje Shugden’s people in the real field of life is facing.

I hope that Huffpost and the rest of the international media, or humanitarian society is able to give continuous support and have more articles, and give voices to the Dorje Shudgen’s practioner to have the freedom of choice and ease this agony for these 25 years.

Buddha never teach discrimination so should not be for people to discriminate especially if call self Buddhists. So, if really Buddhist then compassion to all even with those don’t agree worship same deity. Dorje Shugden is enlightened so should respect religious freedom and not discriminate.

Thank you for highlighting this here. Really appreciate this Mr Martin DeSai. It is important for people to understand this issue from another angle.

Dorje Shugden often being made the scapegoat for the divide in Tibetan community highlighted by the governing body Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and claimed to be the cause for their failure to regain Tibet which I beg to differ:

1. The CTA rule is corrupt. They are the real cause of the problem. It has been 50 over years since CTA in power over the exiled community but nothing has been done.

2. Ministers and officials of CTA has big nice houses and travels but their own people has no welfare aid from its government. Money should have been spent on its people to help them to thru their lives. Tibetans in exile live with little support for their own.

3. Money should have been spent on welfare of its people in exile and pave way for peace talks with China instead of publishing books and videos to further mislead its people to further ostracise Dorje Shugden community. The way as it is, it doesnt seem to me that CTA treats Dorje Shugden practitioners as their own Tibetans. They are being treated as though they have double crossed their own government for their choice of religion which has nothing to do with politics.

4. Concentration should be towards their work to open talks with China for a possible autonomy so that exiled Tibetans can finally return home after half a decade out from their homeland and live under little welfare and literally on their own.

5. It doesn’t help when officials like it’s government officials and ministers have other country passports like for example Lobsang Sangay has a US passport. Does that mean they do not really believe in regaining Tibet cause? Then why raise so much funds from generous countries? Where did the money spent on?

6. Dorje Shugden practitioners are regarded as paid Chinese spies to spy on exiled Tibetans for no reasons. The 25th Tsem Tulku Rinpoche was one of the many many other people being accused as paid spies hired by Chinese government to exert pressure on Tibetan leadership (???) In hope of their people won’t believe into what His Eminence has to say. This form of accusations includes all other monks who have declared to the public of their choice of practice.

7. Tibetans who are Dorje Shugden practitioners are forced to severe ties with either Dorje Shugden or their family members, friends and face expulsion from their work including no access to facilities given to every other Tibetans and it is blatant meanwhile CTA denied and played down the claim to merely just as an advise to its people.

8. The real cause of why Tibet was lost in the first place was due to the corruption and the then weak Tibetan government in the first place. To be honest, there are very few who can withhold attacks by Chinese military and a weak government certainly propelled things. Dorje Shugden certainly has nothing to do on this. In fact records by old surviving monks actually spoke about how Dorje Shugden helped His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama escaped from Tibet to India unnoticed and unscathed.

People have to start ask questions on why all the above are happening and why it is important to highlight this big issue to the world so that more people to come to aware of this discrimination going on in Tibet by CTA on its own people.

The ban on Dorje Shugden practice is really unnecessary and that is the real cause of the Tibetan divide. The claims and reasoning behind the ban is really illogical and warrants scrutiny.

Thank you Huffington post for pointing out the unfair treatments towards Dorje Shugden practitioners, not only they cannot go for health treatments, schools, restaurants, hotels and other public areas or facilities, they are even being forced to split with their families, relatives and friends, when they speak about Dorje Shugden publicly, their life will be at stake, that is how CTA treat their very own citizen.

Another thing about CTA’s treatments to their citizens are those who practice Dorje Shugden, they will automatically labeled as China spy or traitor to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, then eventually they will get harmed ‘legally’ or their house get break ins and things get destroyed.

It has been over 20 years since the ban, it has been over 20 years of suffering to Dorje Shugden practitioners, now the ban should be lifted so that Dorje Shugden practitioners can be treated fairly, whether the people practice Dorje Shugden or Setrap or Mahakala, or any other protectors, they are still citizen of Tibetans, they are still loyal and respect Dalai Lama a lot, so why can’t we all live harmoniously and peacefully? Why want to create havoc?

“You shouldn’t show prejudice to anyone because of their colour, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, handicaps, age, beliefs or religious choice. If I choose to worship Dorje Shugden, you have no right to speak against my belief or condemn me. If you do condemn me, you leave the door wide open for anyone who is different to be condemned.”

This is a very powerful quote, whether they are white or black, Buddhist or Hindus, Chinese or Tibetans, Male or Female, young or old, they are still the citizen of that country, and for a country to be success, they should unite the people and not create segregation, unless the government’s intention is not to develop the country and it is something else.

A big thank you to Huffington Post for a non bias writeup to let public know of injustice!

There are many evidences of how Dorje Shugden practitioners are being mistreated, ostracized and discriminated. How can pro Dalai Lama people say that there are no ban?
If there are no ban, then why even take the time to put photos of pro Dorje Shugden practitioners on CTA’s website?
If there is no ban, why have signs at government offices, hospitals and public places prohibiting pro Dorje Shugden people to enter?
If there is no ban, why Dalai Lama do not allow Dorje Shugden practitioners attend His teachings?
If there is no ban, why do Dorje Shugden practitioners get attacked online day in day out because of the practice?
How is it what we choose to practice can affect the freedom of Tibet? If pro Dalai Lama people and H.H. can say that Dorje Shugden is a ‘devil’ then why don’t they bind Him and stop the practice? But why didn’t they do that? Because Dorje Shugden is the emanation of Manjushri who is a Buddha and they can’t ‘bind’ a Buddha.

I am very happy to read about Huffpost’s article on Dorje Shugden’s ban once again. Thank you Huffpost for paying the attention of this 20 years controversy which has divided Buddhists apart, not just Dorje Shugden practitioners and none Dorje Shugden practitioners or those who chose to gave up due to the enforcement by CTA and HHDL.

I truly disturbed when CTA claimed that Dorje Shugden practitioners are Chinese spies at the same time we are being classified as criminal by CTA. Well, CTA need to know, that Tibetan Buddhism is all over the world today, so when they hit the ban, it’s not only affected the Tibetan but all Dorje Shugden practitioners which consist all races in the world. I am a Chinese living in Malaysia, one of the 4 millions Dorje Shugden practitioners, so am I Chinese spy to Tibetan? What is it gonna do with me and the “Tibetan cause”?

Buddhists Lamas and monks came to Malaysia, my country to give teachings, segregated the Dorje Shugden practitioners!! We are asked to sign a letter and to declare that we are not Dorje Shugden practitioners before joining their activities. If you are Dorje Shugden practitioners, you are not allowed to join but donation was welcome. Many of my friends who had the same experience. So who is dividing the Buddhists now? What wrong have we made to Tibet? Millions of donation we collected from Malaysia over the years to support Gaden monastery in India. Monks were sleeping at the corridor because the monastery cannot afford to build more hostel. We adopted monks by sending them money every month for their food, books and robes etc, so have we created any harm or dividing the Buddhists or spying the CTA or causing anything bad to the Tibetan cause? What benefit do we get to do that?

I can imagine the suffering and trauma the Dorje Shugden practitioners are facing in every where especially in Tibet and India everyday. Many chose not to say anything and even gave up because they have no choice but have a life. Many chose to segregate Dorje Shugden Lamas and practitioners so they can look good for being embraced by HHDL who has gone all over the world to talk about compassion and love. I fully understand where they come from but then they forgot about the root of Buddha’s teaching is COMPASSION. Compassion is to love all sentient beings. Why are we chant mantra to an ant but turn around you discriminated and segregated Dorje Shugden practitioners?

My faith to my Guru H.E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche will not change because he showed me what is real dharma and compassion. He gave me Doje Shugden practice during my difficult time and we walked through the spiritual journey together not CTA, not HHDL and not other lamas nor Dharma centres. I treasured what I am blessed with in Malaysia, our government gives us religious freedom and support on our own spiritual practice. Malaysian should not be influenced by this illogical ban of Dorje Shugden which is totally a political play by the CTA and HHDL.

I’m glad that finally there is someone that is independant really looking into the discrimination problem causes so much suffering for the Dorje Shugden practitoner that imposed by the Tibetan leadership since 1996. There are so many evidents that show how the Dorje Shugden communities are unable to access to their basic necessity because of the unjust ban. This is inhuman and totally violate religious freedom and human rights that one should entitle from their government.

No government should suppress their own people instead uniting them. What ironic or rather hypocrite with Tibetan leadership is they are seeking freedom for their people but on the other hand ostracized their own people just because of religious differences. This doesn’t make sense and not correct.

Hope this unbiase article by Huffpost which I’m thankful for would able to show the world that at this 21st century, religious discrimination still exist and need to be eliminated for world peace, harmony, unity and a better place to live for every single being live in this planet.

I particularly like Tsem Rinpoche’s quote towards the end “If I choose to worship Dorje Shugden, you have no right to speak against my belief or condemn me. If you do condemn me, you leave the door wide open for anyone who is different to be condemned.” Exactly, we are so different and diverse, we differ from the person next to us in skin color, religion, culture, ethnicity, family background, gender, sexual orientation, language, height, weight, look, length of hair, etc etc. It is endless our difference from just the person next to us. In order to coexist in harmony, tolerance and acceptance are the only ways, if not, every single difference will become a conflict and it will be endless. The Tibetan leadership, who are supposedly “Buddhists”, should know better, since acceptance and tolerance are the core of Buddha’s teachings. During Buddha’s time, Buddha did not discriminate against caste and women who had lower social status back then, so why is it that now the so-called Buddhist leaders are scorning Shugden people just because Shugden people chose to stick to their practice which you do not agree with? Where is the application of Buddha’s teachings? Total hypocrisy.

i have always sensed something wrong with the Tibetan leadership, the Shangri-la like picture that they painted to the whole world is false, it is just to get donation and sponsorship. What they did to Shugden practitioners has no place in Shangri-la, it is no different than any other corrupt regime in the world, but at least the other regimes do not try to trick the public with a holier-than-thou image. Recently the election for the prime minister for the Tibetan government-in-exile was as ugly as any other elections in a corrupt country, “Machiavellian” is the exact word to describe the Tibetan leadership. Cunning, deceptive, scheming, self-serving with zero interest for the Tibetan diaspora. This article should be circulated far and wide, the world needs to wake up to the truth and save their own money from getting into the pockets of these religious con-men. 👎

Thank you Huffpost for this great news to voice out on behalf of the millions of innocent Dorje Shugden practitioners. It is unbiased, every aspects discussed are based on facts and evidence.

It is hard to believe that in this 21st century, The Tibetan Government in Exile actually passed a resolution declares that Shugden practitioners are ‘criminal of history’. It means that when we practice Dorje Shugden, we are automatically become criminal of history. We don’t actually need to commit in robbery, drugs, or murder cases to be a criminal, we are a criminal when we hold on to our practice. How ridiculous is that!

It is very clear that no matter how The Tibetan Government in Exile in Dharamsala and the Shugden detractors make their statements that there are no discrimination to Dorje Shugden devotees and there are no Dorje Shugden ban, all facts and evidence are proving they are lying. The more they are trying to manipulate, the more ugly they will be.

For anyone who came across this publish, I hope that you will look into this seriously. Please gives your support and speak up for those who are suffering merely wanted to practice their faith. Dorje Shugden practitioners caused no harm to anyone. They need your help and they deserve the basic human rights and religious freedom. Thank you.

Thank you Huff Post Martin Desai, for showing the other side of the coin and to the world. The world needs to know because for so long since, HH the Dalai Lama’s escape to India, the whole world has been sympathising with Tibet. From this sympathy comes billions of funds pouring into the exile Tibetan Government. I was one of this donors. So do we really know where all the funds go? Do we see any improvements in the welfare of exile Tibetans? No!

So where does everyone’s money goes? And when you find out there are even books published to condemn and state why Dorje Shugden is bad, distributed by the exile Tibetan leadership… you will wonder, so is this where our money goes to? It goes towards discrimination, prejudice, bigotry and all those things we as a democratic society and people swear to oppose… and little did we know we are in fact contributing to it via a government that claims they a “democratic”. Now this is totally wrong, a breach of human rights and ethics and a huge deception of a fake democratic leadership. There is no democracy when those who have an opposing voice and opinion like Lukar Jam, who tried running to be P.M. was quickly eliminated.

Definitely, the Tibetan leadership is still a feudal leadership masked as a democratic one. And it is time for the whole world to know and realise. Tibetan leadership has not only been unfair to their people, they have also been cheating the world, using the Dalai Lama and Buddhism to charm us. It is time we wake up and it is time to ask some serious questions and put an end to their corrupt, vicious, injustice which affects so many people everywhere. It also affects the survival of Buddhism as a whole. This is because, with so much segregation, there is a huge division, which causes many negative actions and repercussion to Buddhism. How can you preach compassion, religious tolerance, acceptance, peace and at the back you persecute Shugden people? That is totally wrong and unacceptable and this must end. This is just one small point I touched about the injustice and discrimination of the Shugden controversy.

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Saturday, May 25. 2019 11:30 AM

Methar of Tengyeling Monastery

A gruelsome read of the cruelty that exist within the holiest office in Tibet. Ministers of the Dalai Lama are very much into the power and money game, without any other authority to stop their heinous actions. A sad fact of the power wielded by the office of the Dalai Lama.

An amazing lady who expertly cuts into paper to form collages of picture to tell stories of life. As a treasure of China, she left her legacy with her disciples to continue the art of paper cutting into new generations to come.

The Trode Khangsar is an important chapel dedicated to Dorje Shugden in Lhasa, Tibet. It was built by His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama towards the end of the 17th Century. Dorje Shugden is an uncommon Dharma protector within Tibetan Buddhism, who is said to protect the Buddhist teachings in general and Nagarjuna’s Madhyamika (Middle Way) Philosophy as taught by Lama Tsongkhapa specifically. Lama Tsongkhapa was the founder of the great Gelug lineage. Dorje Shugden, in his previous incarnation as Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen, was a great scholar, meditator, teacher and contemporary of His Holiness the 5th Dalai Lama. After being murdered, Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen arose as Dorje Shugden in order to benefit countless sentient beings.

Tibetan ‘government-in-exile’ known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) was called to session and Tenpa Yarphel, a notable Member of the Tibetan Parliament (MP) spoke up about the need for Tibetans to be united. Specifically, Tenpa Yarphel bravely addressed a very thorny issue that most Tibetan policy makers have sidestepped for over 20 years, and that is the Dorje Shugden unethical ban that, by now, everyone knows has been very damaging to the fragile Tibetan unity. It is really refreshing to see a Tibetan MP speaking confidently about the realities faced by the Tibetans in exile, with the intention of moving forward to a better future instead of being stuck in myriad divisive policies that have really harmed the Tibetan polity and harmony.

Tenpa Yarphel is one of the heroes that will bring a different for Tibetan. More Tibetan like Tenpa Yarphel should participate and speak up. Tibetan need a change in their government and no longer to follow the old way as it’s proven it doesn’t work.

“I suppose now what I’m interested in is Nirvana, the Buddhist heaven. I don’t know much about it, or really understand it enough to explain it. George knows more.

Studying religion has made me try to improve relationships, not to be unpleasant. It’s not a conscious move to change my personality. Perhaps it is. I don’t know. I’m just trying to be how I want to be, and how I’d like others to be.

Drugs probably helped the understanding of myself better, but not much. Not pot. That just used to be a harmless giggle.”

The power of enlightened Dharma protectors comes from their enlightened nature, which is compassionate and wisdom-filled. On the deepest level, they represent our blissful awareness of emptiness in strong energetic forms – the best protection against obstacles. The Dharma protectors protect sincere spiritual practitioners who seek their higher selves, see the downfalls of materialism and other problems created by the human mind.

I personally have experienced the powers of Dorje Shugden much to my amazement for each request I make even of the minute ask is fulfilled sometimes immediately within the day of asking or several days to weeks depending on my extend of my life request.

His compassionate nature and swift powers are to be witnessed only by those who are willing to give the divine being a chance for him to connect with you and render help. Ask DS and you shall receive. I have!

If one single person can make such an immense positive contribution,imagine how the world could change for the better if only its population derives inspiration from this one man’s effort regardless of race, colour, creed, or belief.

Greed destroys, selflessness sustains both our existence and other living existence on this planet.

Ku Shulan is a inspiring women as i know and i realized this after reading this article. She doesn’t have a good marriage life but she has a very good talent in paper cutting. Even though she doesn’t have a good backbone, she still cuts vegetables for her family.

She is very creative and her creativity is known worldwide but her life didn’t change by that. She didn’t waste her life by worrying about her family situation but she get up by using her creativity. Thank you.

This story is very inspiring. By reading this article, i can understand that nothing is impossible in this universe. Youngsters should take this man as a role model not only for planting trees but for the confidence in him. Not only confidence, but even loaded of courage in him.

Plants are very important nowadays as we, humans, require oxygen to live. The confidence level in the man has influenced him to change the barren land to a place filled with thousand of various plants. Youngsters can take this inspiring story as their guidance for them to improve their live from nothing to become a topper.

Watch enlightening documentaries online! Into the Universe With Stephen Hawking – The Story Of Everything (2010) In two mind-blowing hours, Hawking reveals the wonders of the cosmos to a new generation. Delve into the mind of the worlds most famous living scientist and reveal the splendor and majesty of the universe as never seen before.

If you have listened to Tsem Rinpoche’s teachings or had the good fortune to meet him personally, you know that he has an irrepressible sense of humour. Rinpoche has a way of making people relax and have a really good laugh.

To do that, he uses his keen sense of observation and incredibly quick mind – nothing escapes his eyes. Some of the funniest moments are when Rinpoche mimics a student’s mannerisms or improvises scenarios that relate to the student’s expressions or reactions towards unpleasant situations or people. They are always spot on and pose a real danger of giving the audience belly-aching laughter.

Can you plant an entire forest by yourself? The answer is, yes! The fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, Padma Shri awardee Jadav “Molai” Payeng single-handedly transformed the barren land of Majuli in Assam into a dense forest by planting a sapling a day since 40 years ago. He started his mission to revive the once barren, sandy river banks of Majuli when he was 16 years old after a startling discovery. Numerous snakes were found dead on the sandy banks of Brahmaputra River after a life-threatening flood. The snakes died from heat due to the lack of shades.

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I must thank my dharma blog team who are great assets to me, Kechara and growth of dharma in this wonderful region. I am honoured and thrilled to work with them. I really am. Maybe I don't say it enough to them, but I am saying it now. I APPRECIATE THESE GUYS VERY MUCH!

Kyabje Zong Rinpoche Videos

Hear the holy voice of Kyabje Zong Rinpoche giving advice on the practice of Dorje Shugden to those who had received the life-entrustment initiation. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche wanted to make sure those present received the maximum benefits from their practice, and that they kept their practice well.LEARN MORE >>

In Tibetan Buddhism, it is always said that whatever we practice must come from an enlightened source to be beneficial in our spiritual journey. As such in this video, Kyabje Zong Rinpoche shares with us the history and reincarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden to explain how great this Dharma protector is through the examples of his previous lives, showing us his powerful spiritual attainments.LEARN MORE >>

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Dear everyone... This is a good condensed talk I gave on Guru Yoga of Tsongkapa. This is the one you should share with others when they are interested in a not too lengthy explanation. It is the perfect practice for everyone who wants simplicity yet effective blessings. You can share this with more people, it will be good.

External Articles

ANIMAL QUOTES

"If you say you don't have money to help a animal shelter, why then do you have money to buy meat?"

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"Eating animals is not our God-given right, but being kind to them is."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"What makes us good humans is not how we abuse animals, but how much we allow them to live and be happy freely."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"We need another and wiser and perhaps a more mythical concept of animals.... We patronize them for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complex than ours they moved finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth."

~ Henry Beston, The Outermost House

"Not eating animals is only unnatural when we are not used to it."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES

"We may encounter defeat, but we must not be defeated."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"What you are today, is the choice you made yesterday."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"You think you can choose your life? What an ego trip!"

~ Lama Yeshe

"If TODAY you are dissatisfied, you must make the changes to create different results for TOMORROW."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

SPIRITUAL QUOTES

“Meditating on Dorje Shugden while reciting his mantra will open the gateways to higher dimensions, blessings and protection.”

~ Tsem Rinpoche

“If one does the recitation of the Lama Tsongkhapa guru yoga prayer for even one month using one of the visualizations for great or clear or quick wisdom, one will definitely see development of that wisdom. It is proved by experience. There is no doubt that by doing the Lama Tsongkhapa guru yoga practice one can meet Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings from life to life. And furthermore, it gives one the opportunity to be born in the pure realm of Lama Tsongkhapa, Tushita, whenever death happens.”

~ Pabongkha Rinpoche

"I was 18 years old in 1983. That was a very special year as I met His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche and received innumerable precious teachings and empowerments from Him at Thubten Dhargye Ling Centre in Los Angeles, California. It was the best time of my life. A time that seems so magical and surreal to me. Kyabje Zong Rinpoche is Heruka Buddha and I met Heruka."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"If being me offends you, maybe I'm not the problem."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"Never abandon your spiritual teacher no matter how many inner obstacles you need to overcome."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"Actions to force something to be permanent makes all the karmas arise."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"The dharma is not easy to listen to… because some people take it as criticism. But Dharma should not be just feel good only for the moment but for deeper contemplations."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"Whether we do work and suffer but for others or we do work and suffer for ourselves, either way we have to suffer. That is the nature of samsara. So let us suffer for others and then suffering has meaning."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"Those who really want the dharma to grow within themselves and to grow for others should never fear hard work, timing, difficulties, struggles, disappointments because it is for a good cause. Working for Dharma is not a prison or work, but it is purely spiritual practice. It is purely collection of merit and purification. Actually not doing dharma work is the real prison."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"His Holiness Zong Rinpoche stressed the need to continue to practice even when we come up against obstacles, and that we should continually review our progress. He stated that a happy, luxurious life was like a good dream, and that obstacles and difficulties were like a bad dream. We should give them no significance, but simply carry on working towards real, everlasting happiness."

LIFE QUOTES

"I pity men who occupy themselves exclusively with the transitory in things and lose themselves in the study of what is perishable, since we are here for this very end-that we may make the perishable imperishable, which we can do only after we have learned how to approach both."

~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"Money amplifies negative characteristics and that can cause problems.
To walk away from that was actually very easy. I didn't even consider it."

~ Angeline Francis Khoo

"I shall not commit the fashionable stupidity of regarding everything I cannot explain as a fraud."

~ Carl Jung

"There is a devil there is no doubt, but is he trying to get into us or trying to get out?"

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"If you love someone, show it by being honest, respectful & honorable with them."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."

~ Henry David Thoreau

"If I can just be the way I am & you the way you are & we accept each other, world peace is near."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"I am Asian, you are some other beautiful color. Together we make diversity so beautiful."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"It's amazing how some people have never met me or know who I am, but based on a few things they read here & there & rumours, they have formulated a new personality for me & all the things I've never done they passionately speak about....I find it funny and entertaining now. I guess we can't spend our lives fighting rumours...we just have to work hard & then rumours get proven wrong on it's own as a by product. No point explaining repeatedly. Just do our work & show results!!"

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"There's a difference between patience and laziness. Patience comes from respect while laziness from disrespect of others."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"Although outwardly we have so much, we have so many conveniences, inwardly we have become more unhappy, so, acquisition is not the secret to happiness. The more we get, the more we have, the more unhappy we become."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"Before we experience any pain, we already had a fixed view of how things should be. When the experience we encounter contradicts our views, then the pain arises. The pain arises due to our fixed views not so much the experience itself. So the secret is changing the views. Re-educating ourselves on our views."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"You know since very young, for better or worse, I always did the things that others told me not to do. I wasn't really good at following the rules. Even now with how I share Dharma and my practice, I just do it the way I think it should be done but I do it sincerely. Not what others tell me what I can and can't do."

~ Tsem Rinpoche

"Love me or hate me, both are in my favor... If you love me, I'll always be in your heart... If you hate me, I'll always be in your mind."

~ William Shakespeare

"One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous or honest."

~ Maya Angelou

Devotional Songs

Sung by Mary Fewel Tulin, these mystical songs in praise of the guru originate from the Sikh tradition. Yet, they are applicable to all traditions for those who want to venerate their guru.

The Unknown

The Known and unknown are both feared,
Known is being comfortable and stagnant,
The unknown may be growth and opportunities,
One shall never know if one fears the unknown more than the known.
Who says the unknown would be worse than the known?
But then again, the unknown is sometimes worse than the known. In the end nothing is known unless we endeavour,
So go pursue all the way with the unknown,
because all unknown with familiarity becomes the known.
~Tsem Rinpoche

Photos On The Go

Click on the images to view the bigger version. And scroll down and click on "View All Photos" to view more images.

2 days ago

My Dharma boy (left) and Oser girl loves to laze around on the veranda in the mornings. They enjoy all the trees, grass and relaxing under the hot sun. Sunbathing is a favorite daily activity. I care about these two doggies of mine very much and I enjoy seeing them happy. They are with me always. Tsem Rinpoche
Always be kind to animals and eat vegetarian- https://bit.ly/2Psp8h2

4 days ago

After you left me Mumu, I was alone. I have no family or kin. You were my family. I can't stop thinking of you and I can't forget you. My bond and connection with you is so strong. I wish you were by my side. Tsem Rinpoche

6 days ago

This story is a life-changer. Learn about the incredible Forest Man of India | 印度“森林之子”- https://bit.ly/2Eh4vRS

1 week ago

Part 2-Beautiful billboard in Malaysia of a powerful Tibetan hero whose life serves as a great inspiration- https://bit.ly/2UltNE4

1 week ago

Part 1-Beautiful billboard in Malaysia of a powerful Tibetan hero whose life serves as a great inspiration- https://bit.ly/2UltNE4

1 week ago

The great Protector Manjushri Dorje Shugden depicted in the beautiful Mongolian style. To download a high resolution file: https://bit.ly/2Nt3FHz

2 weeks ago

The Mystical land of Shambhala is finally ready for everyone to feast their eyes and be blessed. A beautiful post with information, art work, history, spirituality and a beautiful book composed by His Holiness the 6th Panchen Rinpoche. ~ https://bit.ly/309MHBi

Mongolian (Oymiakon) Shaman in Siberia, Russia. That is his real outfit he wears. Very unique. TR

3 weeks ago

Find one of the most beautiful temples in the world in Nara, Japan. It is the 1,267 year old Todai-ji temple that houses a 15 meter Buddha Vairocana statue who is a cosmic and timeless Buddha. Emperor Shomu who sponsored this beautiful temple eventually abdicated and ordained as a Buddhist monk. Very interesting history and story. One of the places everyone should visit- https://bit.ly/2VgsHhK

Silver Manjusri figure from Ngemplak Semongan (Indonesia). Apparently during the Shailendra Dynasty, Mahayana Buddhism was very strong in Indonesia. This Dynasty promoted Mahayana Buddhism and Manjushri was a principal Buddha of worship.

There is an area near Lumbini, Nepal, they have sightings of Yeti for hundreds of years. So they have signages in the area with Yeti artwork to highlight this. Interesting. TR

3 weeks ago

Photos of footprints (Yeti) are from a high altitude pass (Darwa Pass) connecting Gangotri valley to Yamunotri valley through old pilgrim route.

3 weeks ago

Beautiful picture. Rare. Three holy beings.

3 weeks ago

May 1, 2019-I really enjoy this picture of these visitors visiting Dorje Shugden's grotto in Kechara Forest Retreat today. They look happy, light and blessed after doing their prayers to Dorje Shugden. I wanted to share this picture.- https://bit.ly/2UltNE4

4 weeks ago

A postcard of my great grand aunt Princess Nirgidma of Torghut-Tsem Rinpoche

This poor boy is being forced to leave his friend to be sold for slaughter. Children have a natural connection with animals, and they know it is wrong to hurt and kill them. Children lose this connection by being indoctrinated (brainwashed) by their parents/peers into believing animals are here to be exploited, killed, and eaten.- from Lucinda Smyth FB page

1 month ago

Some people really struggle and put in so much effort in their lives. Amazing. Tsem Rinpoche

1 month ago

18th Century Mongolian made Namgyalma statue. Very artistic. Very beautiful. Usually her arms are 'all over the place' but this one is so artistically placed and poised. Tsem Rinpoche

1 month ago

My mother Ms. Dewa Nimbo came out with a new book. I am happy for her. Tsem Rinpoche

Videos On The Go

Please click on the images to watch video

4 weeks ago

Our Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir speaks so well, logically and regarding our country’s collaboration with China for growth. It is refreshing to listen to Dr. Mahathir’s thoughts. He said our country can look to China for many more things such as technology and so on. Tsem Rinpoche

4 weeks ago

This is the first time His Holiness Dalai Lama mentions he had some very serious illness. Very worrying. This video is captured April 2019.

These people going on pilgrimage to a holy mountain and prostrating out of devotion and for pilgrimage in Tibet. Such determination for spiritual practice. Tsem Rinpoche

2 months ago

Beautiful new casing in Kechara for Vajra Yogini. Tsem Rinpoche

2 months ago

Get ready to laugh real hard. This is Kechara’s version of “Whatever Happened to Baby Jane!” We have some real talents in this video clip.

2 months ago

Recitation of Dorje Dermo‘s mantra or the Dharani of Glorious Vajra Claws. This powerful mantra is meant to destroy all obstacles that come in our way. Beneficial to play this mantra in our environments.

We were told by Uncle Wong he is very faithful toward Dorje Shugden. Dorje Shugden has extended help to him on several occasions and now Uncle Wong comes daily to make incense offerings to Dorje Shugden. He is grateful towards the help he was given.

Trijang Rinpoche never gave up his devotion to Dorje Shugden no matter how much Tibetan government in exile pressured him to give up. He stayed loyal inspiring so many of us.

5 months ago

Very rare video of His Holiness Panchen Rinpoche the 10th, the all knowing and compassionate one. I pay deep respects to this attained being who has taken many rebirths since the time of Lord Buddha to be of benefit to sentient beings tirelessly. Tsem Rinpoche

5 months ago

This bigfoot researcher gives good reasonings on bigfoot. Interesting short video.

5 months ago

His Holiness Kyabje Zong Rinpoche of Gaden Shartse Monastery was one of the teachers of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. Here in this beautiful video is Geshe Kelsang Gyatso showing his centre to Kyabje Zong Rinpoche, then proceeding to sit down to receive teachings. For more information- https://bit.ly/2QNac1u

6 months ago

Tsem Rinpoche’s dog, Oser girl always sits on Rinpoche’s chair. When Rinpoche’s other dog, Dharma tries to get into the chair, he is chased away. Oser is the boss. She is possessive. Cute.

6 months ago

Lama Yeshe talks about how to practice at the beginning and at the end of each day during teachings given in London during the Lamas’ first European teaching tour in 1975. Lama Yeshe was a brilliant teacher and I wanted to share this with everyone so his teachings can reach more people. Tsem Rinpoche

6 months ago

Our beautiful Dorje Shugden shop in the busiest part of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Many tourists visit our store and this area.

6 months ago

Living off the grid in Australia

A Jill Redwood is a jack of all trades, Jill built her own house on her property and lives entirely off the grid with no mains power or town water, mobile reception or television. Living on around $80 a week, Jill has over sixty animals to keep her company and an abundant garden that out serves as an organic supermarket right at her doorstep. Her main expenses are animal feed and the rates on her property. Watch this incredible three minute video and be inspired to live differently.

6 months ago

Kyabje Dagom Choktrul Rinpoche offering gold on a 350 year-old Dorje Shugden statue in his chapel in Lhasa. This is how Tibetans show homage and pay respect to a holy image. This chapel and statue of Dorje Shugden in Lhasa dedicated to Dorje Shugden was built by the Great 5th Dalai Lama. Tsem Rinpoche

This video is thought-provoking and very interesting. Watch! Thanks so much to our friends at LIVEKINDLY.

2 yearss ago

Chiropractic CHANGES LIFE for teenager with acute PAIN & DEAD LEG.

2 yearss ago

BEAUTIFUL PLACE IN NEW YORK STATE-AMAZING.

2 yearss ago

Leonardo DiCaprio takes on the meat Industry with real action.

2 yearss ago

Do psychic mediums have messages from beyond?

2 yearss ago

Lovely gift for my 52nd Birthday. Tsem Rinpoche

2 yearss ago

This 59-year-old chimpanzee was refusing food and ready to die until...

she received “one last visit from an old friend” 💔💔

2 yearss ago

Bigfoot sighted again and made it to the news.

2 yearss ago

Casper is such a cute and adorable. I like him.

2 yearss ago

Dorje Shugden Monastery Amarbayasgalant Mongolia's Ancient Hidden Gem

2 yearss ago

Don't you love Hamburgers? See how 'delicious' it is here!

2 yearss ago

Such a beautiful and powerful message from a person who knows the meaning of life. Tsem Rinpoche

2 yearss ago

What the meat industry figured out is that you don't need healthy animals to make a profit.

Sick animals are more profitable... farms calculate how close to death they can keep animals without killing them.
That's the business model.
How quickly they can be made to grow, how tightly they can be packed, how much or how little can they eat, how sick they can get without dying...
We live in a world in which it's conventional to treat an animal like a block of wood.
~ Jonathan Safran Foer

2 yearss ago

This video went viral and it's a must watch!!

2 yearss ago

SEE HOW THIS ANIMAL SERIAL KILLER HAS NO ISSUE BLUDGEONING THIS DEFENSELESS BEING.

This happens daily in slaughterhouse so you can get your pork and Bak ku teh. Stop eating meat.

ASK A PASTOR

A section for you to clarify your Dharma questions with Kechara’s esteemed pastors.

Just post your name and your question below and one of our pastors will provide you with an answer.

Scroll down and click on "View All Questions" to view archived questions.

pastor answered:Dear Ernest，
The five precepts are the five basic Buddhist code of ethics:
1. to refrain from killing or taking life
2. to refrain from stealing or taking what is not given
3. to refrain from sexual miscondut
4. to refrain from lying or false speech
5. to refrain from intoxicants that clouds the mind.
If we break any of the vow, what we can do is we apply the Four opponent powers which is we regret it (Power of Regret), we rely on the Three Jewel (Power of Reliance), we apply the remedy (Power of Remedy) such as recitation of Sutras or Mantras, purification practices like Vajrasattva practice, 35 Confessional Buddhas etc, and we promise not to do it again (Power of Restraint). Then we can retake the Five Precepts again.
Regarding sexual misconduct, the key concept is not to hurt anyone just to satisfy your own sensual pleasure. For example, if you are married yet you have an external affair, it's considered sexual misconduct. If you are forcing someone to have sex with you, it's sexual misconduct etc. Sexual relationship between boyfriend and girlfriend or those who love each other is not a sexual misconduct.
Recommended reading: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/students-friends/vows-the-roots-of-all-attainments.html

pastor answered:Dear John,
Dear
I am not sure about the practice you mentioned. However I did read about a negative karma cleansing mantra "OM HANU PAHASHA BHARA HE YE SOHA". It is said that just by seeing the mantra in Tibetan, one can purify 100,000 eons of negative karma.
Here is the Tibetan mantra:
༄༄།།ཨོཾཧནུཔཧཤབྷརཧེཡེསྭཱཧཱ།།

pastor answered:Dear Dewa Zangpo,
For laymen, sexual misconduct or “wrong sensual indulgence” is karmically harmful behavior which also means engaging in sexual activities that might be harmful to others or ourselves. Therefore, to abstain from sexual misconduct means to not have sex with a non-consenting individual (as in rape, coercion, or fraud) or consensual sex with anyone under protection. This means any dependent supported by parents, guardians, the community, state, or a spouse or fiancee.
“Sexual misconduct” is actually a broad term, and it's subject to culture and customs, therefore I shall say the basis is not to cause harm, hurtful feelings to anyone when engaging in the said activities.
Recommended reading: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/external-article/what-is-sexual-misconduct

pastor answered:Dear Parth,
Thanks for the question. In order to engage in any tantric practice, we must first receive initiation from our guru as the permission to start the practice. Our guru will decide if we are eligible to receive the tantric initiation based on his observation on us because the success of a tantric practice is not so much depending on a guru but more on the correct mental attitude of a student.
Just like what Lama Yeshe explained in one of his book: "“Initiation does not mean that a guru gives you some incredible power. You already have the qualities of profound wisdom and great bliss within you; initiation simply activates them." Our guru will decide if we are ready for the activation to take place. Therefore if we engage in any tantric activity without the permission of a guru, we are doing it prematurely. Not only will it not bring us any benefit, but it will create obstacle for us in the future too. Of course, the magnitude of the karma is also affected by our motivation ie if we did it unknowingly or intentionally.
To purify the karma, we can engage in the powerful Vajrasattva practice. It is said by Vajrasattva practice and it's meditation together with four opponent powers, we can purify even root downfalls of the tantric vows, which is very difficult to purify. If we can purify the root downfalls of the tantric vows, definitely the lower vows such as the ten non-virtuous acts that we should avoid, will be purified too.
You can read more about Vajrasattva practice here:
An important purification practice
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/prayers-and-sadhanas/an-important-purification-practice.html

pastor answered:Dear Jordano,
Thank you for visiting tsemrinpoche.com. I hope you enjoy reading the articles on this blog and benefited from the teachings here. Ask A Pastor section is a platform for us to discuss and share Dharma knowledge, you are welcome to post dharma related questions here, and our pastors will try their best to give you an answer, however we apologize that we don't provide any translation service here. Perhaps you can get the relevant service from other Tibetan language websites. Thank you.

pastor answered:Dear Javinder Singh,
Thank you for being not sectarian, this is a correct and beautiful attitude that everyone should embrace especially those who claim to be spiritual. Our planet earth would be a more peaceful place to live in if there are no inter-religious conflicts. I agree with you that Buddhism is direct and offer explanations, that's also the main reason I end up becoming a Buddhist after years of being sceptical about religions. Regarding brahmacharya, if I understand correctly, it's to refrain ourselves from indulging in sexual activities. I believe it's not easy to be accepted by the majority however I think the key is we ourselves practice the real dharma and set a good example, then our words will bear more weight in the future if our ultimate aim is to benefit others.
I believe you will like this article: https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/inspiration-worthy-words/dharma-is-for-everyone.html

pastor answered:Dear CY Wong,
Buddhas always manifest in different forms to help sentient beings with different needs. Dorje Shugden is the wrathful emanation of Buddha Manjushri. As an enlightened protector, Dorje Shugden too exhibits the same qualities as buddhas. There are five families of Dorje Shugden, which includes the principle deity, Shize (pacification), Gyenze (increase), Wangze (control) and Trakze (wrathful), each represents different activities of Dorje Shugden.
Wangze is the control form of Dorje Shugden. When we propitiate Wangze, we invoke Dorje Shugden’s activity of control. However, that does not mean that this manifestation of Dorje Shugden is limited to only control activity and cannot assist in other ways. Any form of Dorje Shugden is complete in itself.
Therefore, either you pray to the principle deity of Dorje Shugden or Wangze, you are actually praying to Dorje Shugden, but praying to Wangze will invoke Dorje Shugden's special activity of control.
It's up to you to choose whichever practice you want to do. However, if your main focus is to deal with difficult people who create obstacles in your workplace, Wangze is an excellent choice.
To answer your second question, if you take Wangze as your practice, then, of course, it's natural for you to wear Wangze image and vice versa. However, there's nothing wrong to wear any one of them, as both are Dorje Shugden.
This is the link to Wangze practice:
https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/buddhas-dharma/dorje-shugden-wangze-for-power-and-influence.html

CHAT PICTURES

Dear blog friends, you can submit your photos to this section by sending an email to tblogpics@gmail.com. Include your message in the "Subject" field (up to 250 characters only). Be sure to include your name in the subject field too!

2 hours ago

Students making soap by themselves during WOAH Camp. Lin Mun KSDS

2 hours ago

So happy that young children can engage in dharma practise at the very young age. Lin Mun KSDS

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